Goodbye to Willie Colón: Bad Bunny’s tribute

Willie Colón, an iconic salsa musician, has passed away at the age of 75. The artist passed away yesterday, February 21st. The sad news came via a message shared on his Facebook page which read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and renowned musician, Willie Colón. He passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family.” And again: “Even as we mourn his absence, we celebrate the eternal gift of his music and the precious memories he created, which will live on forever.”

Born on April 28, 1950 in the Bronx, New York, the musician, born William Anthony Colón Román, learned to speak Spanish as a child without forgetting his Puerto Rican roots. During his adolescence he then began his musical adventure by releasing his first album “El malo” in 1967 with Héctor Lavoe. Over the course of his six-decade career, Colón released over 40 albums, earning nine gold and five platinum albums.

Among those who paid tribute to the late artist, Bad Bunny honored Willie Colón during the last stop of his “Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour” in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The star, fresh from his performance at the Super Bowl, told the audience: “This music is very special. It is the influence of all of us who grew up listening to salsa in the Caribbean. Today one of the great legends who contributed to this beautiful genre passed away.” Bad Bunny added, before singing “Nuevayol”, in which he explicitly mentions Colón: “For me and Los Sobrinos, we wish Willie Colón to rest in peace.”