Salsa has known more than its share of star vocalists and virtuoso instrumentalists. But among the artists who defined the rich, layered specificity of its sound was Willie Colón, who died on Feb. 21.

The trombonist, singer, bandleader, composer and producer from the Bronx helped shape the sound of salsa. By Ed Morales The music that the world now knows as salsa would probably not exist if not for ...