When Matos was a young man, his grandfather gave him a pandereta, the lead drum and characteristic instrument of the traditional Puerto Rican plena. Matos quickly became known as a uniquely talented and innovative player of the requinto, the smallest pandereta and the one responsible for the constant rhythmic improvisation that lends a dynamic energy to the music. Here he discusses how he and his bands keep Puerto Rican musical traditions alive and popular in the community without big record labels or radio play.