Born on February 23, 1940, in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and passing away on July 2, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pupi Legarreta was a distinguished Cuban violinist, flautist, singer, bandleader, arranger, and composer. He made his move to the United States in 1959 and became a member of the second charanga in the U.S., Orquesta Nuevo Ritmo. This ensemble was founded in the mid-1950s in Chicago by percussionist Armando Sánchez (born in 1920 in Havana). Legarreta appeared on their sole LP, The Heart Of Cuba, released in 1960 on GNP.

After Orquesta Nuevo Ritmo transitioned into Mongo Santamaria's ensemble, Legarreta continued to contribute, playing on six albums produced by Santamaria for Fantasy between 1961 and 1962. He also wrote all the arrangements for Ay Que Rico! by the Benny Velarde Orchestra, released on Fantasy in late 1962. His first solo album, Salsa Nova, came out in 1962 under the Tico label, combining jazz elements with the traditional Cuban charanga format. This album featured prominent musicians, including music director Tito Puente, conguero Carlos 'Patato' Valdez, güiro player Osvaldo 'Chi Hua Hua' Martinez, and lead vocalist Totico. The album was later reissued as Toda La Verdad in 1976.

Legarreta later signed with Remo, producing works such as Pupi And His Charanga, Jala Jala Con Boog-A-Loo (also known as Salsa), and Que Lio! from the 1965 to late 1960s period. He contributed to various studio-recorded descarga sessions, including Johnny Pacheco's His Flute And Latin Jam in 1965 on Fania, Chi Hua Hua's Descarga Cubana Vol. 1 in 1966 on Fonseca (which was later reissued as a CD in 1991), and the Salsa All-Stars album in 1968, produced by Al Santiago.

In the 1970s, Legarreta moved to Fania/Vaya, releasing several albums such as Pupi y su Charanga in 1975, featuring three violins and a cello, and El Fugitivo in 1979, which he co-produced with Johnny Pacheco. His album Pupi Pa' Bailar, released in 1980, was produced by Ray Barretto. He also played significant roles on Larry Harlow's albums, including El Judio Maravilloso, Con Mi Viejo Amigo, and El Jardinero Del Amor, spanning from 1975 to 1978. Legarreta participated in the all-star charanga event Super Tipica de Estrellas in 1976, directed by Don Gonzalo Fernández, and collaborated with Pacheco on the album Los Dos Mosqueteros -- The Two Musketeers in 1977.

As a member of the Fania All Stars, Legarreta appeared in the film Live In Africa in 1974, which was later released on UK video as Salsa Madness in 1991. He made his UK debut with the ensemble in 1976 and contributed to three Fania All Stars albums between 1978 and 1980, including Habana Jam, recorded in Cuba, and Live In Africa and Live In Japan, both released in 1986.

Legarreta showcased his violin skills on Cachao's Descarga Vol. 1 in 1976 and Dos in 1977 on Salsoul. He arranged Roberto Torres Presenta: Ritmo de Estrellas in 1980 on Guajiro and participated in Papaito Rinde Homenaje A Abelardo Barroso that same year on SAR. He co-arranged Orquesta Sublime's album Simplemente Sublime in 1981 and contributed to Rica Charanga in 1986 by Rudy Calzado, as well as Charanga -- Traicion Cubana En Nueva York in 1987 by charanga Orquesta Son Primero, led by Charlie Santiago.