Jalloul "Chico" Bouchikhi (Arabic: جلول البوشيخي; born 13 October 1954[1]) is a French musician and a co-founder of the Gipsy Kings. After leaving the band in 1991, he formed his own group, Chico & the Gypsies.[2]
Chico Bouchikhi | |
|---|---|
 Bouchikhi in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jalloul Bouchikhi |
| Born | 13 October 1954 Arles, France |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Member of | Chico & the Gypsies |
| Formerly of | Gipsy Kings |
| Spouse | Marthe Reyes (div.) |
| Website | chico |
Early life
editBouchikhi was born in Arles, France, to a Moroccan father from Oujda[3] and an Algerian mother from Tlemcen. He was married to Marthe Reyes, daughter of José Reyes, the father of the Reyes sons, members of the group Gipsy Kings.[4]
Career
editIn 1979, upon the death of their father, José, the five Reyes brothers from Arles (Nicolas, Canut, André, Patchaï, and Pablo), who had up to that point been performing as a family band named José et Los Reyes, were joined by their cousins Diego, Paco, and Tonino Baliardo (nephews of Manitas de Plata) from Montpellier, and together with Bouchikhi, who was then married to Marthe Reyes, José's daughter, formed the group Gipsy Kings.[5] They traveled around France and played at weddings, festivals, and in the streets, with Nicolas as lead vocalist and Tonino on lead guitar.[6] The group eventually became world-famous with such songs as "Djobi Djoba", "Bamboléo", and "Un Amor".[7]
In 1991, Bouchikhi left Gipsy Kings due to financial disagreements with their then-manager, Claude Martinez,[8] and went on to start his own group, Chico & the Gypsies.[4] The band has released numerous albums since 1992.
Personal life
editBouchikhi's brother, Ahmed, was assassinated by Mossad agents in the Norwegian town of Lillehammer in July 1973, in what came to be known as the Lillehammer affair. Ahmed, a waiter, had been mistaken for Ali Hassan Salameh.[9]
Bouchikhi is a UNESCO special envoy for peace.[4] In 1994, he was invited to play before Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords peace negotiations.[4]
In 2001, he unsuccessfully ran in the municipal elections of Arles.[10]
In 2014, Bouchikhi visited Israel. When asked in an interview with The Independent about his decision to refuse to participate in a boycott of the country, he insisted that reconciliation was more important than holding grudges.[11]
Bouchikhi lives in Arles, where he owns a restaurant and music venue called Patio de Camargue.[10]
Discography
editwith the Gipsy Kings
edit- Allegria (1982)
- Luna de Fuego (1983)
- Gipsy Kings (1988)
- Mosaïque (1989)
with Chico & the Gypsies
edit- Tengo Tengo (1992)
- Vagabundo (1996)
- Nomade (1998)
- Bamboleo (2003)
- Freedom (2005)
- Suerte (2008)
- Chantent Charles Aznavour (2011)
- Chico & the Gypsies... & Friends (2012)
- Fiesta (2013)
- Chico & the Gypsies & International Friends (2014)
- Color 80's (2016)
- Color 80's Vol. 2 (2016)
- Mi corazón (2018)
- Unidos with Hasna (2021)
- Gipsy Guitar (2022)
- Otro Camino (2023)
References
edit- ^ "Notice de personne" [Personal file]. catalogue.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Chico and The Gypsies". esbb Agency. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ^ "L'histoire" [History]. laprovence.com (in French). 21 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Israël : le grand pardon de Chico" [Israel: the great forgiveness of Chico]. humanite.fr (in French). 3 November 2001. Archived from the original on 21 April 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Steve (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. Scarecrow Press. pp. 143–145. ISBN 978-0-8108-8296-6.
- ^ "Gipsy Kings". allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Gray, Louise (2009). The No-Nonsense Guide to World Music. New Internationalist. pp. 23–25. ISBN 978-1-906523-70-1.
- ^ "Biographie". musique.rfi.fr (in French). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Chico Bouchikhi, le king des gypsies". Maroc-hebdo.press.ma. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Chico Bouchikhi : La force d'être ensemble" [Chico Bouchikhi: The strength of being together]. lemonde.fr (in French). 23 January 2001. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Gypsy Kings star Chico defies Israel boycott despite Mossad". The Independent. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2022.