Freddy de Jesús Ortega Ruiz, professionally known as 'Coco', was born on December 7, 1949, in Caracas, Venezuela. Raised in the barrios of Caracas, he developed an early affinity for Afro-Cuban rhythms, including guaracha, son montuno, and guaguancó. This passion led to the formation of the ensemble Coco y Su Sabor Matancero, which is dedicated to traditional son cubano and salsa music.
Throughout their career, Coco y Su Sabor Matancero established a reputation both in Venezuela and internationally, performing across Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Curaçao, and the United States. Key milestones include their performance at the first Festival de la Salsa on Isla de Margarita, and the release of their 2005 album 'Yo Soy el Son', which solidified their standing as prominent exponents of son cubano in Venezuela.
The group's recorded output spans several decades, represented by a catalog active from 1987 to 2024. In 2018, they released a series of live concert singles capturing performances with historic vocalists such as Celio González, Nelson Pinedo, Mundito González, and Nancy Toro. More recently, they have continued to release new music, including the single 'Un Guaguancó Pá Mi Barrio' in 2022, followed by 'Sujetate La Lengua' and 'La Toalla' in 2024.
