The pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Bebo Valdés was one of the most influential personalities in the history of Cuban music. In 1954, he began recording a series of albums for the Decca record label. The members of Bebo's orchestra included such important musicians as Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar, Luis Escalante (trumpet), Generoso "El Tojo" Jiménez (trombone), Gustavo Mas, Rafael "Cabito" Quesada, Virgilio Vixama (saxophones, clarinet), Enrique "Kike" Hernández (bass), Guillermo Barreto (drums) and Rolando Alfonso and Cándido Camero (congas), among others.