In an effort to achieve wider recognition he left Cuba for Mexico in the mid forties. Only mildly successful, he returned in 1953. Back in Havana he joined Orquesta Sensación, led by Rolando Valdés (to briefly replace the much more famous "sonero" Abelardo Barroso). This engagement was followed by temporary stints at a group whose fame survives today, Chappottín y sus Estrellas, whose members at the peak of their success and fame were Félix Chappottín, Miguelito Cuní, René Álvarez, Lilí Martínez and Gina Martín, as well as Marquetti. Between 1955 and 1957 he had his own conjunto, Los Salseros, with whom he recorded a couple of albums for Panart (reissued by EGREM).