rodríguez joined and served in the u.s. army for one year. after he was discharged, he returned to new york where he joined the orchestra of josé curbelo. on one occasion, the band performed at the china doll cabaret. there he met a young japanese chorus girl by the name of tobi kei (b. takeko kunimatsu, january 23, 1925, bellingham, washington, usa), who eventually became his wife.