It was notably led by Lieutenant Colonel Ney Miguel Milanés Gálvez (born in 1944), who had been leading the for 46 years from 1974 to 2019.

The band service is a cultural tool for the Revolutionary Armed Forces aimed at maintaining the patriotism and high morale of the servicemen and women and veterans.

It was founded on 1 April 1960, by order of Juan Almeida Bosque, at the request of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was then the President of the National Bank of Cuba.

It plays an important role in providing accompaniment for military parades that take place on Revolution Square on January 2.

[6] During the death and state funeral of Fidel Castro in November 2016, a march was composed specifically for the occasion by the band.