Willie Colón, architect of urban salsa music, dies at 75
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Willie Colón, the Grammy-nominated trombonist, composer, and social activist known as a pioneer of urban salsa music, died at age 75, leaving behind a legacy of more than 40 albums and over 30 million copies sold worldwide.
- He gained fame through his collaboration with Rubén Blades on the landmark salsa album "Siembra," which addressed social issues and became one of the genre’s bestsellers.
- Colón was recognized for blending diverse musical styles such as jazz, rock, funk, and traditional Latin rhythms, earning 10 Grammy nominations and a special Grammy for his lifetime contributions in 2004.
- Beyond music, Colón was an active community leader and civil rights advocate, working with
