Salsa Legend Willie Colón Dies at Age 75 in Bronx

Willie Colón, a New York–born trombonist and composer who helped create modern salsa music, has died at the age of 75. His death affects fans across Latin America, the United States, and beyond, where his recordings with Fania Records and artists like Héctor Lavoe shaped popular music. Media in several countries are also revisiting his political views, stage persona, and long‑used nickname, “The Bad One of the Bronx.”