Its rhythms are derived from the Andalusian flamenco rumba, with influences from Cuban music and rock and roll.
The Catalan rumba originated in the Romani communities in the Gràcia, carrer (street) de la Cera del Raval and Hostafrancs neighborhoods.
The Romani community in those neighborhoods is long-established and bilingual in Catalan and were influenced by the heavy Andalusian immigration to Barcelona during this period.
It is in 44 time, and consists of vocalists and handclaps, accompanied by guitar, bongos, and güiro; later groups also incorporate timbales, conga drums, small percussion instruments, piano, wind instruments, electric bass, and electric keyboard.
An important medium for diffusion of this genre were cheap cassette tapes sold at gas stations.