Gipsy Kings Perform at Detroit's Fox Theatre Tonight, 8/24

The Gipsy Kings will perform at the Fox Theatre tonight, August 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Gipsy Kings' Detroit performance is presented by Delta Airlines. 

Tickets ($20, $35, $50 and $65)  go on sale Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at OlympiaEntertainment.com, The Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices, Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (without service charge) at all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 745-3000.  For additional information, call (313) 471-6611. 
  
The Gipsy Kings consist of two bands of brothers: the Reyes (Nicolas, Canut, Paul, Patchai, Andre) and the Baliardos (Tonino, Paco, Diego).  The Reyes and Baliardo boys were the offspring of Spanish gypsy families that had fled into France to escape Spain's Civil War. They grew up roaming the south of France, working harvests and making music.  

Jose Reyes – father of the GK's Reyes – sang alongside guitarist Manitas de Plata and did much to popularize flamenco internationally: John Steinbeck, Charlie Chaplin, Pablo Picasso, MiLes Davis and Salvador Dali were amongst the duo's admirers.  Jose split from Manitas in the 1970s and formed Los Reyes with his teenage sons.  His death devastated the Reyes yet led to their fortuitous encounter with the Baliardos at the St. Marie de la Mer Gitan pilgrimage. On that warm night, as they passed the guitar, shared songs and wine, history was shaped.

Initially, the Reyes and Baliardos busked on the streets of Cannes, played weddings and parties, young men flavoring flamenco with Western pop and Latin rhythms.  When an American admirer told the band their name Los Reyes meant "The Kings" in English they realized they were born to be Gipsy Kings.  In 1987, The Gipsy Kings' self-titled debut album introduced the world to 'rumba Gitano' – the sound of South America's rumba rhythm married to flamenco guitars – with their hit singles "Djobi Djoba" and "Bamboleo" -- which scored a huge international hit.  Since then the Kings have never stopped singing to the world. OnPasajero, The Gipsy Kings continue their epic musical journey.

Today the Gipsy Kings still live with their families in the south of France.  Life may have changed for them – they no longer busk on streets or pick crops when times are hard or travel in caravans – but still, at heart, they remain Gypsies, the proud descendants of an ancient people who seduced the world with music and dance.

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