[6] Pérez knew Isleño Spanish as a first language and possessed little knowledge of English until attending elementary school.

[2][3] Upon the United States' entrance into World War II, Pérez dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Army.

[9] What makes the Isleño décima unique is the content which usually focuses on life in eastern St. Bernard Parish, specific community members, historical events, or other stories.

[6][4] Traditionally, different singers would sing improvise and modify décimas in rounds, but during the late twentieth century, it became more common for a single decimero to perform.

[2] In addition to singing, Pérez was an expert woodcarver of decoys and was known for his highly realistic carvings of songbirds and water fowl from cypress.

Pérez was greatly involved with the promotion of Isleño culture, and he visited the Canary Islands multiple times.

[1] Over the years, Pérez would become president of Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society and later the defunct Canary Islands Descendants Association.

[2] He suffered a heart attack at his home, and he died later that day at Tulane Medical Center on January 8, 2008.

[1][2] His death is seen as a great loss to the continued presence of Isleño Spanish and the customs of the Canary Islands in Louisiana.