Willie Colon

About Willie Colon

Colon picked up trumpet as a kid in the Bronx before switching to trombone, drawn to the all-trombone approach of Mon Rivera and Eddie Palmieri's work in the 1960s. He caught Fania Records' attention early and recorded his debut at 17, which sold over 300,000 copies. A chance circumstance at the recording session (his original vocalist was killed in a street altercation) led producer Johnny Pacheco to pair him with singer Hector Lavoe, a collaboration that would define the sound of New York salsa for nearly two decades.

Colon's partnership with Lavoe ended in 1975 when he stepped back from touring to raise his family and pursue other ventures, though he continued producing Lavoe's solo work. His compositional and arranging talents had already proven their worth, and he went on to collaborate with major figures including Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, and the Fania All Stars. His 1978 album Siembra with Ruben Blades remains the best-selling salsa record ever made. Beyond performance, Colon has been active in preserving Latin music, serving as chair of the Association of Hispanic Arts and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2004.

Colon's work earned him 15 gold records, 5 platinum records, and 11 Grammy nominations across a catalog built on arranging, singing, and trombone work that blended multiple traditions. The Groove Hunter currently tracks 5 editions of his releases, including La Gran Fuga, El Juicio (50th Anniversary Edition), and Hecho En Puerto Rico, reflecting both his classic output and modern reissues that have kept his music in circulation.