The Gypsy Kings

The Gypsy Kings are a French flamenco and rumba group from Arles, formed in 1978 and still active. They are associated with dance, flamenco, flamenco pop, folk, latin and rumba, and their sound develops from Roma flamenco traditions into a more pop-oriented style.

Origins and family line-up

The group comes from two related families, the Reyes and the Baliardo families. Members include Nicolas Reyes, Canut Reyes, Paul Reyes, André Reyes and Patchaï Reyes, along with Jacques “Paco” Baliardo, Maurice “Diego” Baliardo and Tonino Baliardo. Jahloul “Chico” Bouchikhi is also part of the group’s history, and several other musicians are listed among its members over time, including Marc Chantereau, Dominique Perrier, Gérard Prévost, Claude Salmiéri, El Rumbero and others. The Reyes brothers are sons of the flamenco singer Jose Reyes, and the family connection extends to the flamenco guitarist Manitas de Plata, whose granddaughter Tonino Baliardo marries.

Early development

Nicolas, Canut and Paul Reyes begin performing with their father, Jose Reyes, who sings cante jondo and other traditional flamenco forms. The younger generation starts to play rumba flamenca and, after meeting the Baliardo brothers, the group begins to shape a more pop-focused repertoire. They perform at Roma parties and on street corners before recording under the name Gipsy Kings.

Style and musicianship

The group’s music combines flamenco guitar with Latin American rhythms, rhythmically percussive guitar techniques and strong vocal harmonies. Some members play left-handed guitars strung upside down, a practical approach shaped by learning on borrowed instruments. Their arrangements later incorporate drum kits, electronic bass, electronic keyboards, and rock and reggae beats, which leads to criticism from some flamenco purists and support from listeners who see the band as helping to create a new style.

Recordings and recognition

Their self-titled debut album includes “Djobi Djoba,” “Bamboleo” and the ballad “Un Amor,” and brings them wide popularity in France, across Europe and in the Middle East. The album also gains a long chart run in the United States after its 1989 release there. Their second album, Mosaique, includes “Volare,” a rumba version of Domenico Modugno’s “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu.” Their cover of “Hotel California” becomes one of their best-known recordings and appears in The Big Lebowski.

Collaborations and later work

In 1991 they provide flamenco guitar and backing vocals for Bananarama’s version of “Long Train Running” under the name Alma de Noche, meaning “Soul of the Night.” They also contribute to the Disney-song compilation Simply Mad About the Mouse with a fast rumba-flamenca version of “I’ve Got No Strings.” Their 1993 album Love and Liberte wins the Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Album of the Year and includes “Montana,” a song about Roma people being driven from their homeland by prejudice and persecution. The 1995 compilation The Best of the Gipsy Kings goes platinum and remains on the charts for more than a year.

Catalogue, sales and solo work

Other albums that go gold include Mosaïque, Allegria, Este Mundo, Gipsy Kings Live, Love & Liberte, Tierra Gitana, Cantos de Amor and Volare! - the Very Best of the Gipsy Kings. Total worldwide album sales exceed 18 million, and the group is described as the best-selling music group from France. Lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo, who writes the group’s instrumentals, releases the solo albums Essences and a self-titled follow-up.

Documentary and touring

The group explains the development of its sound in the 1996 PBS documentary Tierra Gitana (Gipsy Land). It also continues to tour internationally.