Gipsy Kings

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About Gipsy Kings

Gipsy Kings, known for melding traditional flamenco styles with Western pop and Latin rhythm, has been fronted by songwriters and producers Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo since 1979. ∙ Reyes said they got their name by accident while touring as Los Reyes: “An American woman, after asking us our name and origin, exclaimed, ‘Oh, you are Gipsy Kings!’” ∙ All the original members were related, by blood or marriage, to legendary Gypsy guitarist Ricardo Baliardo, known professionally as Manitas de Plata. ∙ Gipsy Kings, the band’s million-selling US debut, peaked at No. 3 and spent 154 weeks on the charts. ∙ In 2014, they shared the Best World Music Album Grammy Award with Ladysmith Black Mambazo—marking the first-ever tie in that category. ∙ Paste magazine included their cover of “Hotel California” in its 10 Best-Used Songs in Coen Brothers Movies list. ∙ At present, only two of the original members are still in the “official” band, while three other members have split off and tour as The Original Gypsies.

ORIGIN
Arles, France
FORMED
1987
GENRE
Worldwide

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