Chico and the Gypsies

Multi-platinum worldwide French recording artists Chico and the Gypsies (founder of The Gypsy Kings) release their debut UK album ‘FIESTA’, available to purchase, download and stream from the 29th September.

‘FIESTA’, the feel-good flamenco album by Chico and the Gypsies is chock full of tracks celebrating and showing off the passion, love and exuberance of the traditional gypsy way of life and love.

‘FIESTA’ features a brand new summertime remix of the classic worldwide smash hit song Bamboleo which was co-written for the Gipsy Kings by Chico himself; the remixed version on the album is by the fast rising producer Lucenzo who has re-booted the song to become an instant hit with partygoers in bars and clubs all over Europe.

French music star Sofia Essaidi has joined Chico and the Gypsies in a beautiful acoustic reworking of Sting’s classic 1993 hit, Shape of My Heart which has been re-titled Las Cartas for the album. The legendary French singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour lends his voice on the band’s version of his classic love song, T’Espero (I Will Wait). Chico’s daughter Sanaï joins her father and sings on the track Tu Sabas and there’s some fine trumpet and acoustic guitar work on the uptempo El Porompompero which has no equivalent English translation! Both these tracks are featured on the band’s album ‘Friends’ which has now sold over 250,000 in France.

Chico Bouchikhi was co-founder of the Gipsy Kings and co-writer of the group’s string of 1980s smash hits – Bamboleo, Djobi Djoba, Soy and more which saw them become the first French group to be awarded a platinum disc in the US and go on to sell an estimated 20 million albums, making them the biggest world music crossover act, well ahead of the Buena Vista Social Club.

FIESTA Album track listing:
1. Amor De Mis Amores
2. Las Cartas (Shape of My Heart) feat. Sofia Essaidi
3. Bamboleo (Radio Edit)
4. Siempre Ti Amore (I Will Follow You)
(co-written by Graham Gouldman/10cc and Graeme Pleeth)
5. El Porompompero
6. Pachelbel Gypsy
7. T’Espero feat. Charles Aznavour
8. La Camisa Negra
9. Tu Sabas feat. Sanaï
10. Orefu Negro (Manaha Do Carnaval)
11. Sabay Sabay
12. Bamboleo Remix feat. Lucenzo

Chico left the Gipsy Kings in 1992, formed Chico & the Gypsies, and quickly built up a worldwide following of millions of music fans: from his native France to Japan via Dubaï, the band’s infectious brand of rumba, flamenco and Latin pop and rock tunes became immediately recognisable as joyful, flamboyant and hugely entertaining.

Chico and the Gypsies make their debut London concert performance at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 30th November. FIESTA has already sold 100,000 copies in France.

Music-News.com caught up with main man Chico Bouchikhi and Jean Philippe Steverlynck - Peewee (violinist) from the Gypsies to find out more. Check out the full uncut video below.

London Concert Details:
Venue: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF
Date and Time: Sunday 30th November 2014 – 7.00pm
Box Office: 0844 412 4660 or 0844 412 4657
www.reallyusefultheatres.co.uk or www.seetickets.com
Ticket Prices: £35.00 - £80.00