SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Rafael Ithier, a beloved musician and a founder of the legendary salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, whose hits have inspired Bad Bunny and other icons from the U.S.

The salsa icon and Nuyorican pioneer’s bold trombone sound and landmark collaborations helped define a generation of Latin music.

Bad Bunny’s halftime show at the Super Bowl earlier this year took the U.S. and the world by storm for his performance that grandly honored Puerto Rican culture as part of America. His performance ...