Willie Colón, salsa legend, has died. He was 75 years old

The American Willie Colon, considered a salsa legend, trombone pioneer, vocalist and composer, died this Saturday, February 21, at the age of 75.

The news was released by the family on the musician’s social networks, and the cause of death was not disclosed.

Son of Puerto Rican parents, Willie Colón was born in the Bronx, New York, having recorded dozens of albums, including The Great Escape in 1970 and The Judgment em 1972.

He was only 15 years old when he signed his first contract with a label, Fania, and two years later (in 1967) he released his first album, The Badwhich sold more than 300,000 copies, according to his biography on the Los Angeles Philharmonic website.

Colón’s music combined elements of jazz, rock and salsa, incorporating rhythms from traditional music from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Africa.

In 2004, he received a career award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.