His face showed clear signs of Amerindian descent:[citation needed] he was of Indo-mulatto heritage (one of his grandmothers was a Siboney).
[citation needed] He was the son and nephew of soneros, and he grew up in the ambiance of this type of Cuban music and dance.
When his two friends returned to Oriente, Lorenzo met María Teresa Vera, and formed a duo with her in 1937.
Later, with Compay Segundo (Francisco Repilado), he formed the duo Los Compadres; lastly he continued under the same title with his brother, Reinaldo Hierrezuelo, known as Rey Caney.
Lorenzo composed a large number of sones, boleros and guarachas, such as Barbarita tiene novio, Cantando mi son yo me muero, Caña quema, Culpable no soy, El hule de Tomasita, Ese palo tiene jutía, Mal tiempo, Mi son oriental, Rita la caimana, and Sarandonga.