Last Updated on 12 hours ago by Vijay Kumar
Julia Colón Craig is known as wife of Willie Colón. The couple were married for decades and kept their family life largely private even as his fame grew. Julia was known as a supportive partner throughout his career, standing by him through personal challenges and successes alike. They raised their children together, building a home grounded in love and resilience behind the scenes of Colón’s legendary public life.
Willie Colón, the influential salsa musician, passed away on February 21, 2026, at the age of 75, his family announced, saying he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
Colón was celebrated worldwide as a pioneering salsa artist whose career spanned more than five decades. Born William Anthony Colón Román in the South Bronx, New York, to Puerto Rican parents, he began his music journey at a young age and soon became one of the most important figures in Latin music.
Over his long career, Colón was known as a trombonist, composer, bandleader and singer who helped shape the sound of modern salsa. He signed with the legendary Fania Records as a teenager and released his first album, El Malo, in 1967 — an early example of the New York salsa sound that fused Afro-Caribbean rhythms with jazz and popular music influences.
Colón’s collaborations are part of his lasting legacy: his work with vocalist Héctor Lavoe in the late 1960s and early 1970s produced some of the genre’s most enduring music, and his partnership with Rubén Blades on the album Siembra became one of salsa’s best-selling records. He recorded more than 40 albums, blending traditional Latin styles with innovative arrangements that expanded the reach of salsa worldwide.
Beyond his musical achievements, Colón was also respected for his social activism, using his platform to address cultural and political issues affecting Latino communities and earning recognition with awards including a Lifetime Achievement honor from the Latin Recording Academy.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
