Chico & The Gypsies
Chico and the Gypsies is the right band in case you have to excite a large audience. Chico, the founder of the legendary Gypsy Kings, is your best if you want that extra kick at the venue.
BIO
Chico, king of the gypsies looking for peace. He founded the hugely successful Gypsy Kings, then set up a new group Chico and the Gypsies.
Now, he is UNESCO's special envoy for peace. Chico Bouchikhi, alias Chico , is not in fact a gypsy but the French-born son of North Africans. With this sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic biography, Chico 's story is in many ways the story of a certain time and a certain place.
"LIFE IS A LUCK" (Chico)
"Luck" is a word often used by chico. This luck that dictated and oriented his life...
Chico was born in Arles in France 1954 to a Moroccan father and an Algerian mother. His life is a movie, that, as he says, "works with love...".
While becoming an "Arles kid", he adopts the uses and the life style of the Provence, then he became close to another community, the gypsies, that will become his heart family.
In the 70´s, while it would be more important for him to think about his professional future, Chico learns to play guitar with THE REYES ( Gypsy family of Arles ). With his new companions, he went to play in St TROPEZ. A car failure is at the origin of meeting BRIGITTE BARDOT. She becomes their godmother, they are launched. During those years, only a few people believed in the gypsy music.
To reach an international dimension, CHICO changes the name of the group giving it an English consonance: The GIPSY KING. The success is world-wide with the title "BAMBOLEO" in 1987, and the "US Turn" of 1990, where they fill the stadiums in the USA. Again a luck!
In 1991, due to management problems, CHICO leaves the group. This is not a big problem for CHICO already involved in Gipsy music evolution, and discovering a new generation of artists.
He created CHICO & THE GYPSIES in 1992 : on the road again for new adventures. His luck shows him the way.
In 1994, invited by Frédérico Mayor, General Director of the UNESCO, they play in Oslo for the first birthday of the peace treaty that unites Shimon PERES and Yasser ARAFAT, for personalities and stars. It´s a world-wide event!
In 1986, he created the "Gypsy Mosaic Festival", true window for peace, that will perpetuate and evolve year after year. At the time of the edition of 1995, for the year of the tolerance, he´s invited by the unesco for the "NIGHT OF PEACE".
Touched by his history Frédérico Mayor consecrates him "special Envoy of the unesco for peace", with for godfather, the Commander COUSTEAU. This is mission of five years that continually will be renewed by the new Directior of the internually organization, Koichiro MATSUURA.
CHICO & THE GYPSIES sings on stages everywhere in the world, as in RAMALA in Palestine, BERECHE in Israel ( a week after September 11 2001 ), in Algeria or in Yugoslavia.
Meeting with important personalities like the Pope, the Dalaí Lama or L´Abbé Pierre, CHICO continues his adventure everywhere in the world to deliver his message for peace, and to share his luck.
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LINEUP
Line-Up:
Chico Bouchikhi - leader
Bourguet Alain - guitar, vocal
Baliardo Christophe - lead guitar
Farre Jean - guitar, vocal
Gautier Joseph - guitar, vocal
Jean Claud Vila - guitar, vocal
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Next tour scheduled:
Jun-Jul 2012
