US salsa legend Willie Colón, vocalist, trombonist and composer, dies aged 75
The Guardian • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Willie Colón, a pioneering trombonist, vocalist, and composer known as a major figure in salsa music, died at age 75; the cause of death was not disclosed.
- With over 30 million albums sold, multiple platinum records, and 11 Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, Colón is considered one of the most successful salsa artists ever.
- Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Colón began his career at 15 with Fania Records and released influential albums like "El Malo" and "Siembra," the latter being the best-selling salsa album of all time.
- Colón's music blended jazz, rock, and traditional Latin rhythms, and he expanded and politicized salsa, making it a voice for urban
