Chico & The Gypsies

Gipsy Kings founding member Jahloul "Chico" Bouchikhi formed Chico & the Gypsies after a 1991 falling out with the group's manager. Bouchikhi was 12 years old when he met the children of influential Gypsy singer Jose Reyes. Spending most of his time at Reyes' encampment, he taught himself to play guitar at the age of 17. Before Reyes' death, he named Bouchikhi his successor as leader of the family's band. Originally named Los Reyes, the group was renamed the Gipsy Kings in 1983. In the late '80s, Bouchikhi and the Gypsy Kings successfully reached out to the international marketplace, releasing eight top-selling albums between 1988 and 1991. In 1991, Bouchikhi formed Chico & the Gypsies with musicians from Arles and Montpelier. ~ Craig Harris