William Anthony Colón Román, known as Willie Colón, is a legendary salsa musician and social activist born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents in 1950. A pioneering trombonist and vocalist, he began his music career at just 15 and quickly rose to fame as a key figure in the New York salsa scene associated with Fania Records.
Willie Colón is celebrated for blending salsa with jazz, rock, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, creating timeless music that explores Puerto Rican identity and diaspora. Over five decades, he has collaborated with iconic artists like Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, and Rubén Blades, contributing to some of the genre's best-selling albums. Beyond music, Colón has been deeply involved in political activism and community service, making him not only a cultural icon but also a committed advocate for social change.