Two groups were born out of one. Both have done what very few timba groups have done and had female singers in the front line. Bamboleo started with Vannia Borges and Haila Mompié, and Haila continued to sing with Azúcar Negra and the two of them finally have made solo carreers.

The group Bamboleo was born with the project “Las mulatas del fuego” that was organized by José Luis Cortés, the director of NG La Banda. The record company did not like the group that was formed, but the band played at a jazz festival in 1995 and made a success. Despite many problems, such as having to play on borrowed instruments due to lack of money to buy them for, the group continued to be successful and is still one of the most popular Cuban bands.

Bamboleo is directed by the pianist Lázaro Valdés and has made various records. The first, Te gusto o te caigo bien, was released in 1996 and then Yo no me parezco a nadie (1998), Ya no hace falta (1999), Ño, qué bueno está (2000) and Mi verdad (2006).

Azúcar Negra on the other hand was founded in 1997 when Leonel Limonta, Haila Mompié and a few more musicians left Bamboleo. Limonta had written a lot of the songs of Bamboleo and Haila was one of the lead singers in the group. Limonta has also written music for among others La Charanga Habanera and Issac Delgado. In 2001 Azúcar Negra released their first record, Andar andando, followed by Sin mirar atrás (2004) and Toque natural (2006). Throughout the years a long row of musicians have passed through the group and today Leonel Limonta is the only original member in the group.

Source: www.timba.com