He became one of the most prestigious Cuban musicians throughout his life. It is considered that around 600 very popular musical pieces were composed by him. The Cuban dances are also notable in his piano works. He is  considered  to be the  pioneer of what today is known as afro- Cuban music.

Afro- Cuban music

The rhythms of the slaves who were forced by the Spanish colonizers  to come from Africa, from the 17th to  the 19th century, are the roots  that define  the afro-  Cuban music.  Although they came from different ethnic groups such as : efik, arará, abakuá, ewe-fon and  bantúes , there is no doubt that the ones which influenced the Cuban culture most, especially the music,  were the yorubas. It was done by their religion and systems of dances and the batá drums. That is why afro- Cuban music is called Yoruba music, but in general its origin is religious secular Yoruba music, congo, abakuá, rumba and conga.