Gipsy Kings

The Gipsy Kings is a group of rumba flamenco originating from France. They sing mostly in Spanish. They are known for bringing rumba flamenca to worldwide audiences.

Gipsy Kings beginnings

The band started out in Arles, a town in southern France, during the 1970s, when brothers Nicolas and André Reyes, the sons Jose Reyes, teamed up with their cousins Jacques, Maurice, and Tonino Baliardo. At the time, Reyes and Manitas de Plata were a duo. When Reyes split from Manitas de Plata, he started a group made up of his sons, which he called Los Reyes.

Gipsy Kings name

Los Reyes started out as a gypsy band. They traveled around France, playing at weddings, festivals, and in the streets. Because they lived so much like gypsies, the band adopted the name Gipsy Kings.

Gipsy Kings became popular with their third album, which included the songs Djobi Djoba, Bamboleo, and Un Amor. The Gipsy Kings album was released in the United States in 1989 and spent 40 weeks on top of the charts.