He was born in San Sebastián, PR the 27 of May of 1890. He began his musical studies at  ten years of age with Don Jesus Figueroa . One made an effort to be the most outstanding disciple and at an early age he began to touch the onóveno, the bombardino and clarinet. Soon after already he prepared musical adjustments for an orchestra of adults that directed its professor. After six years, he entered to the trusteeship of Don Angel Mislán that got along immediately with the youngster and began to give him to classes of harmony and composition. Recognizing the aptitude and abilities of its young disciple, when Mislán left from the city recommended it like its successor in the direction of the Municipal Band, Acosta being named to the position.

At 19 years of age, he composed his first danza, titled "Las Carmelas",  inspired by his two good friends . He moved to Ad juntas. P.R., where he met a young lady, Ramonita Nieves Gonzalez,  that would become his wife and companion by more than fifty years and with they had eleven children.

At Adjuntas P.R., he organized several scholastic and municipal bands. Due to its masterful work of music, his life passed frequently changing itself, moving to live in 37 different towns. He left his track in all of them. Where he look for  dedicated teachers, that who look for youth with the knowledge and appreciation of music and the art.

His works  consists of around 844 musical pieces, most of them danzas. But also he composed other sorts like: pasodobles, valses, total, in addition to 127 religious hymns. His more well-known danza is "Bajo la sombra de uno pino""Under the shade of a pine" inspired the 7 of July of 1936 under an old pine by the seat of Hatillo. The letter of that danza was composed by Jose (Pepito) Martinez and Jorge William the Diaz, native of Lares, PR. Don Angel considered that other compositions like: Thus it is the life, Invoking to God, Glorias of the Past, and Remembering Mislán they are musically superior to this one, its more popular composition. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture is guarding 300 of its works and for the decade of the 60 it produced a recording of twelve of its favorite compositions, interpreted to the piano by Elsa Salgado Creek.

He passed away in 1968, and according to Hiss own desire, he was buried in Quebradillas under the shade of a pine that seeded his family on its grave.

Bajo la sombra de un pino