[3] "Rodríguez won a children's talent contest at the age of seven and at 12 he was part of the Tempo Moderno orchestra, in which he remained for four years.

"[4][5] In 1973, at 15 years of age, with the help of producer Harvey Averne, Rodríguez moved from Puerto Rico to New York to join Eddie Palmieri's band.

After leaving Palmieri, he was invited to join, Machito Grillo's Orchestra where they recorded the album “Fireworks“, which was also nominated for a Grammy.

[2] In 1980, Rodríguez "went solo," releasing his first studio album Simplemente... Lalo featuring the salsa classic "Tu No Sabes Querer" (You don't know how to love).

"[1] "Rodriguez’s Ven Devórame Otra Vez (Come devour me once more), with its celebrated reference to moistened bed linen, was a prime example [of salsa romantica].”[1] Rodríguez was awarded "Tropical Song of the Year" at the Lo Nuestro Awards in 1989 for the hit, "Ven, Devórame Otra Vez".

[12] Other late 1980s and early 1990s salsa romantica contemporaries include Eddie Santiago, Frankie Ruiz and Anthony Cruz.

[21] In an interview with Primera Hora, Rodríguez recalled the events differently from what his wife had originally told the media, citing that he had accused her of infidelity and wanted a divorce (though both would ultimately reconcile).