It was founded in 1950 by trumpeter Félix Chappottín, pianist Lilí Martínez, singer Miguelito Cuní and other members of Arsenio Rodríguez's conjunto, which was partially disbanded after his departure to the US.

Its founder Arsenio Rodríguez was one of the country's most renowned band leaders with major influences on the Latin jazz and Salsa music of the next decades.

When Arsenio Rodríguez left Cuba in 1950 to undergo an ophthalmological intervention in New York to treat his eye disease, he handed the musical direction over to his first trumpet player, Félix Chappottín.

[4] In 2017 and under the musical direction of Víctor Agustín Linén Fernández, a record and documentary production was made for the 65th anniversary the Ensemble.

Arsenio Rodríguez was one of the most influential Cuban musicians of the last century and had major influences of the development of Salsa and Latin jazz.