In 1925, Gerardo Machado, then Cuban President, invited Tuna Liberal to play at a party for his birthday. At this point, the band was just a commonplace group and had not yet developed its distinctive sound. One source believes Valera and Bautista Llopis were the vocalists while a second source holds to the position that Eugenio Pérez was the sole sonero. The other original members were Manuel 'Jimagua' Sánchez ( timbales), Ismael Goberna ( cornet/trumpet), Domingo Medina, José Manuel Valera, Julio Gobín, Juan Bautista Llopis (guitarists), and Eugenio Pérez, vocalist. He was also a songwriter and later on a singer) and Pablo 'Bubú' Vázquez Gobín ( contrabass).

The co-founders were Valentín Cané (director, tres, guitar and tumbadora, or as it is commonly called, conga.

The ensemble was initially named Tuna Liberal for political reasons. Culturally and demographically, this seaport is located in the most African region of Cuba. The group was founded on Janu in Barrio Ojo de Agua, a neighborhood in the city of Matanzas. Notable singers to have sung and recorded with the band include Bienvenido Granda, Daniel Santos, Myrta Silva, Miguelito Valdés, Leo Marini, Celia Cruz, Nelson Pinedo, Vicentico Valdés, Estanislao 'Laíto' Sureda, Alberto Beltrán, Carlos Argentino, and Celio González. Founded in 1924 and led for more than five decades by guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer Rogelio Martínez, musicologists consider it an icon of this type of music. La Sonora Matancera is a Cuban band that played Latin American urban popular dance music. RCA Victor, Panart, Stinson, Ansonia, Seeco, Tropical, Marvela, MRVA, Orfeón, Bárbaro, Fania, Taurus, Warner Music, Varsity, Discos Fuentes Son, guaracha, bolero, guaguancó, chachachá Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera, 1950s

Sonora matancera breve historia