Ricardo Abreu Hernández

He was the percussionist who created and directed, until his death, the legendary group Los Papines.

Owner of a personal style, which radiated passion with his touches full of folklore, and managed to portray Cuba, also from that area of national melody.

As a child he became involved in art when he participated at age 7 in the filming of a movie. Subsequently he was a member of several musical groups including Conjunto Modelo, Conjunto de Félix Chapotín and Conjunto Estrellas de Chocolate, in which he maintained his singular rhythm.

Since 1955, the famous Cabaret Tropicana had him on stage in a job that he combined at that time with the group Guaguancó Papín, which would lead to the creation of Los Papines, an exceptional group of voices and percussion, at the beginning of the 1960s.

Together with his brothers Luis, Jesús and Alfredo, Ricardo undertook the greatest project of his life. He successfully directed a group where voices and percussion joined hands. With guaguancó, columbia, yambú and other variants of rumba, and without neglecting boleros and sones, Papín was applauded with his group on national and foreign stages. Upon the triumph of the Revolution, he joined its broad cultural movement without neglecting the connection to social activities.

From an artistic point of view, for more than four decades, he was a fervent promoter of the best values of our culture throughout the world. He received, among other distinctions, the Alejo Carpentier medal.

Los Papines are an emblem throughout the world. That group had to be respected in the world of rumba and dance. Their presentation became indispensable in almost all Cuban indigenous music shows both in Cuba and abroad. Television called them time and time again, in other shows they were always called because they knew that saying Papines meant saying seriousness, discipline and dedication to work whatever it might be. They are, since their creation, one of the most well-known rumbera groups in Cuba and abroad for the quality and originality of their musical interpretations, in which they demonstrate to be true masters of Cuban percussion. These ambassadors of Cuban music have made many people dance with Cuban percussion in various countries, including France, Japan, Russia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, United States... And they have recorded numerous albums, in addition to their countless performances on Radio and TV.

After almost 50 years of artistic career they continue to be a reference in the field of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean percussion. With just five musicians they take over the stage and create an unrepeatable show delighting the audience, combining the most genuine manifestations of rumba, whether in theater or cabaret.

Following his death, the group has been renewed with the incorporation of two new figures, belonging to the youngest generation of family musicians. This has given a more modern turn to their performances, achieving masterful interpretations of a jazzy nature.

Awards granted: 2002. "Alejo Carpentier" Medal -