American salsa legend Willie Colón, the pioneering trombonist, vocalist and composer, died on Saturday at age 75, his family said in a statement.
“While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories he created that will live on forever,” the family said on Colon’s Facebook page.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Colón recorded dozens of albums including La Gran Fuga (The Big Break) in 1970 and El Juicio in 1972, according to Fania Records, a label that promoted salsa music.
He signed with Fania at age 15 and two years later, in 1967, released his first album El Malo, which has sold more than 300,000 copies, according to his biography on the LA Philharmonic website.
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