Pedro Pablo 'Pedrito' Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1973. He began performing professionally at the age of 11, learning his craft on the streets of Havana through classic Cuban rumbas, Afro-Cuban folkloric music, and religious music. A santería priest, Martinez relocated from Havana to the United States in 1998, settling in the New York City and New Jersey area.
As a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, and songwriter, Martinez works across the latin jazz, timba, and son cubano genres. He plays the batá drum, conga, cajón, timbales, and bongo drums, among other percussion instruments. Over his career, he has performed and collaborated with artists such as Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo O'Farrill, Brian Lynch, and Bruce Springsteen.
In his recording career, Martinez has released several albums and singles. His 2021 album, 'Acertijos', featured collaborations with Puerto Rican salsa vocalist Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cuban music legend Issac Delgado, and guitarist Eric Clapton. His subsequent catalog includes the 2023 single 'Transiciones En Azul' and the 2025 album 'Ilusión Óptica'.
