El Sucu Sucu - Ritmo creado en La Isla Del Pinos, Cuba

A vinyl 45 rpm on Areito,
with several "rural" forms of 'Sucu Sucu'

In the photo above, you can see the Bongoes are connected with a strap & just "slung" over the musicians knee. This particular system goes back to the early style of bongoces played in 'Son' in the very early 1920's.

The 'Sucu Sucu', a "rural Cuban" rhythm that is reputed to have originated by a Woman named 'Bruna Castillo'.
It was purportedly created in 1840 in a house called "La Tumbita" that was close to a "village" named 'Santa Fe' which is now the second largest city on La 'Isla Del Pinos'.
(now called 'La Isla de la Juventude' since 1978)

The rhythm originally was known to have several names: "rumbita", "cotunto" up untill the 1920's when it was named 'Sucu Sucu' based on the sounds made by the style of playing the 'bandurria' and the sliding and dragging of the feet on the wooden floor of the "bohios" and "conucos".
(small houses of the campesinos/farmers at that time).

"WHAT WAS THE SUCU SUCU IN CUBAN MUSIC? "
An article writen by Maria del Carmen Mestas

To my knowledge, one the only few Cuban musicians still playing 'Sucu Sucu' and keeping it alive commercially is Ramon “Mongo” Rives, a 'Laúd' player and the great grandson of 'Bruna Castillo'.

"Maria Elena"
Mongo Rives


"Esto Es Sucu Sucu!"
'Ramon “Mongo” Rives'
Sucu Sucu - 2002 CD
(((Mongo Rives: Here)))


"El Sucu Sucu"
La Tumbita Criola de 'Ramon Mongo Rives
CD

"Familia González Rives"
Vinyl LP EGREM/Areito
La Mujer De Antonio
Sucu Sucu



1956
Cuban musican playing a 'Bandurria'
(FAQ's about the Bandurria)

1947
Cuban musician playing a 'Laúd'

Several examples of "rural" Sucu Sucu:

Compay Cotunto (1960's)

El Caiman (1960's)

El Caiman #2 (1967)

"Sucu Sucu" with drum & bottle (1960's)