Felix Contreras Willie Colon in an undated photograph. Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives hide caption Willie Colón, the salsa legend who took the genre to new heights while recording more than two dozen albums for Fania Records, died Saturday. He was 75 years old. Colón's family shared the news in a post on the musician's Facebook page. No cause of death was provided. "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," read the statement. The New York City trombonist and bandleader was a key part of Latin music's evolution during the 1970s. He was born in the Bronx in 1950 but had direct ties to Puerto Rico, thanks to grandparents who still lived on the island. As a young teenager Colón was soaking up popular music of the 1960s: R&B, rock, jazz … and Puerto Rican folk music, which he heard while visiting his extended family during the summer. He started playing trumpet at age 12 then switched to trombone.…