The Gipsy Kings are largely responsible for bringing the joyful sounds of progressive pop-oriented flamenco to the world. In 1987, they released “Djobi Djoba” and “Bamboleo,” on an independent label and scored two smash hits in France. Their success led them to sign with Sony Music and release their eponymous debut album later that year. Again, they had tremendous sales in France and then found their album was appearing on the Top Ten album charts in 12 European countries, including England, which is traditionally not receptive to international music. In the late ’80s, the Gipsy Kings, debuted in the U.S. at a New York New Music Seminar. This led them to sign to Sony in America. The Kings’ debut album spent 40 weeks on the U.S. charts and went gold, becoming one of the few Spanish albums to do so. The Kings have had an active release schedule ever since, including the albums Mosaique (1989), Live! (1992), Love & Liberte (1994), Tierra Gitana (1996), Cantos de Amor (1998), Somos Gitanos (2001), Roots (2004) , Pasajero (2007) and Savor Flamenco (2013). The Kings continue to tour and greatly impress audiences around the world.
