Martín Rodríguez Hernández is a self-taught musician, truck driver, and former farmworker currently living in Gonzales, California. He was born in the municipality of Cocula, Jalisco, Mexico, and migrated to the United States at the age of 17. His migration was motivated by the need to support his widowed mother and six younger siblings after the early death of his father.

Martín began singing as a child in his hometown, participating in school events and family gatherings. Though he never received formal musical instruction, he describes himself as a deeply emotional and lyrical musician, shaped by life experience rather than training. His influences include Vicente Fernández, Las Jilguerillas, and other traditional Mexican artists whose songs carry strong emotional and moral messages.

Now based in González, California, Martín composed “El Corrido de Tateposco” to honor a neighboring village in Jalisco and its history of migration. The song reflects on the migrant experience—the longing for home, the dignity of hard labor, and the blend of two cultures acquired through life in the U.S. In narrating their journey, Martín also tells his own—of blending two cultures, building a life from sacrifice, and taking pride in raising a family that has gone on to achieve university degrees and professional careers.

Martín is especially proud of raising his own children and helping his siblings succeed. He emphasizes the importance of instilling discipline, respect, and education in the next generation, believing that this is how migrant families contribute positively to both their community and country.

Through his music and testimony, Martín Rodríguez offers a voice grounded in sacrifice, gratitude, and cultural pride—a voice shaped by migration, memory, and the enduring strength of working-class life.