He had over 3,000 songs to his name. He was the most popular artists on the island right up until his death in 1965. He told about the life of the common person and the injustices they faced. He was one of, if not the first, exponent of Puerto Rican music in the US. His work crossed over into the Jazz world, and Jazz crossed over into his Puerto Rican music. Almost 30 years before Manteca was recorded, he would travel through Europe and make his way to the United States with Jim Europe’s “Harlem Hellfighters” and mix Puerto Rican rhythms with Jazz. This musical marvel, innovator and trailblazer is none other than ‘El Jibarito’ Rafael Hernandez.