Salsa music pioneer Willie Colón, the trombonist and orchestra leader behind songs like El Malo, Oh, Qué Será, Talento de Televisión and Gitana, has died aged 75, US media reports.
The Grammy nominated singer-songwriter "passed away peacefully" on Saturday morning "surrounded by his loving family", his family said on social media. 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 love on forever," they said.
The Puerto Rican musician, who sang in Spanish and whose career spanned nearly 60 years, had been named among the most influential Latino artists of all time by Billboard magazine.
US media attributed Colón's death on Saturday to a statement posted by his family on Facebook and a tribute posted by his long-time manager, Pietro Carlos.
