Cuba’s rumba band Los Papines took the virtual stage on Friday and give a concert online in support of rules in place on the island to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The original members of Los Papines were the four brothers Luis, Alfredo, Jesus, and Ricardo Abreu born in Marianao, Cuba. As children, they started playing rumbas on cans, then with codfish boxes, and later with tumbadoras, quintos, claves and cucharas (spoons).

In the 50's Ricardo created Papin y sus Rumberos and finally in 1962, the four brothers united and started playing together as Los Papines. They began playing guaguanco, cumbia, yambo, jiribillas and especially rumbas. Other rhythms such as boleros and son come along later. They started to work as professional musicians in cabarets and nightclubs such as Tropicana.

Los Papines are a world-renowned master percussion quartet. Their spontaneity combined with their African sounds make their concert an experience full of rhythm, energy and pleasure. But what makes them different is their way of playing the drums or golpe de cuero y canto giving the public a taste of the original rumba cubana. They are also known as The Kings of Rumba.

They have taken their music around the world and have shared the stage with renown musicians such as; Panchito Berejano, Manteca, Daria Nasaco, Chicho from Benni More's Orchestra, Ray Barreto, Mongo Santamaría, Roberto Roena, Tito Puente, Oreste Vilató and many others.

Although three of the original members died Alfredo, Luis, and Ricardo

, the band has since added other musicians from the family, thereby maintaining a tradition and insuring the band’s continued success.

This way, the legendary Los Papines are still kicking and going with Jesus the youngest of the four original members and the "new generation" Papines with his nephews Luisitio, Alexander, Lazaro, Ricardo’s daughter Yuliet Abreu and his grandson.