The group was put together by investment manager Peter A. Scott, who in his own words "decided to create an alternative history in which Cuban ska had emerged".

After some experimentation, with Natty Bo as leader and vocalist, the permanent core of Ska Cubano became : Cubans (from Havana) Rey Crespo and Ernesto Estruch, Jesús Cutiño (Las Tunas), Oreste Noda (Matanzas) and Kico Cowan (Camaguey), together with, from Montserrat, Dr Sleepy (Reuben White), from Spanish Town, Jamaica, Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton, from Chiba City, Japan, Miss Megoo (Megumi Mesaku) and Londoner Trevor Edwards, with Beny Billy commuting from Santiago for recordings and performances.

In 2006 Venezuelan Carlos Pena gradually took over as co-lead singer, although Beny continued to record and occasionally tour with Ska Cubano.

The second Ska Cubano album, ¡Ay Caramba!, was nominated for a BBC World Music Award in the "Culture Crossing" category.

Ska Cubano have performed at major festivals worldwide including Glastonbury, Big Day Out, and WOMAD, and toured to date, in 30 countries.