José Antonio "Pepitín" Rodríguez González was born in Manzanillo, Cuba, into a family with roots in music, composition, and the visual arts. Early in his career, he performed with several smaller ensembles across Cuba, including Son Aribu, Tradición Cubana, Chocolate Caliente, Lira Habana, and Ases del Caribe, establishing his presence in the Cuban salsa and timba music scenes.
He eventually progressed to singing with several of Cuba's most prominent timba orchestras, including Azúcar Negra, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, and Orquesta Revé. After a period of working in Spain, he returned to Cuba to sing with Maikel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor. In 2008, he collaborated with the group La Ley Mayor to release the solo album "Estudiando...!" (also known as "Estudiando") under the Envidia label, showcasing his work in the traditional son cubano and contemporary timba styles.
