One of the more important figures in Cuban musical history, Aresnio Rodriguez was a prolific composer, tresero, percussionist, and bandleader who paved the way for what would later become salsa. He is known by many as the father of the conjunto, which introduced the conga drum to Cuban music, emphasizing African (particularly Congolese) rhythms and sounds.

Blinded by a horse's kick at age 7, Rodriguez turned to music. He learned to play Afro-Cuban percussion and bass, but his primary instrument was the tres, a Cuban guitar-like instrument with three doubled strings (common tunings are: GG, CC, EE or AA, DD, F#F#).

He began his recording career in 1937, performing his own compositions. He changed the popular sound of son music by adding conga drums, piano, and more trumpets to the ensemble, creating the conjuto. This added power and drive to the sound, increasing its intensity. He continued to create various "Afro-Cubanizations" over the course of his career.

Some famous recordings of his include "A Belen le Toca Ahora," "La Yuca de Catalina," "Juventud Amaliana," and "La Vida es un Sueño," a bolero. These songs were recorded in the 1940s, a pivotal time for son music.

Rodriguez moved to New York in 1953, but would never match his Cuban success in America. He continued to record and perform, and died of pneumonia on December 30, 1970, in Los Angeles.

Contributed by: Jake Gold