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Now this is a family group whose fans include Eric Clapton

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.BZ

and Bruce Springsteen, whoever they are.

Welcome the Gipsy Kings.

In the 1980s,

In the 1980s, they were introduced to the world

they were introduced to the world

they were introduced to the world as a family band with a sound like nothing else.

as a family band with a sound like nothing else.

From TV studios in England to cult movies

and the global stage, few have captured the spirit of rhythm

and melody like the Gipsy Kings.

And at the heart of this powerful,

unmistakable sound is one man, Tonino Baliardo.

But who is Tonino Baliardo?

Beyond the music, who is the man behind the fame?

This is the story of a humble virtuoso

whose guitar speaks across cultures.

From sunlit villages in southern France,

to global stages, Tonino's music,

rooted in Romani and flamenco soul,

has become a timeless voice of passion and rhythm.

I first discovered the sound

I first discovered the sound of the Gipsy Kings when I was 16,

of the Gipsy Kings when I was 16,

working in a bar in Menorca.

The Gipsy Kings became the soundtrack

to my summers, and in many ways,

my connection with Spain itself.

So why am I traveling around the south of France

to arrive in Montpelier?

This one is nice. - Yeah.

Over the past year, I was honored

to be welcomed into Tonino's family and into his world.

To travel with him across continents,

witness his stories unfold firsthand,

and see the magic behind the music.

Ah that’s you there, papa!

Is that you there as well?

Is that you there as well? That’s me, yes.

That’s me, yes.

You have big eyes like a rabbit!

That’s in Saint-Tropez.

That’s in Saint-Tropez. At the Beach.

At the Beach.

At the Beach. These ones are good as well.

These ones are good as well.

Yeah, this one is great.

Yeah, this one is great. - At his home in Montpelier,

At his home in Montpelier,

during a family gathering,

during a family gathering, my presence took Tonino

my presence took Tonino

on a nostalgic journey through old memories.

That’s at the beginning

That’s at the beginning in the 1990s.

in the 1990s.

What's closest to Tonino's heart

has always been family and the music he lives for.

Also invited is Tonino's current band,

A new generation carrying on the Gipsy Kings' sound.

Girl of the sun!

Girl of the sun! She’s a girl of the sun!

She’s a girl of the sun!

Their music is so inviting and infectious,

I couldn't help but join in.

Tonino's music is rooted in Spanish.

I ask my interview questions to him in English.

Tonino, thank you for all the wonderful music

that you have bought to the world for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you.

Thank you. - He responds in his native gypsy French dialect.

He responds in his native gypsy French dialect.

I'd love to start by going back in time.

I've always followed the gypsy life, you know.

We’re a gypsy family

who came from the north of Spain.

My grandparents came to France

in the region around Montpellier.

And we were always comforted by

family, by music, and guitars.

And that was the true life.

It was who we were as gypsies.

And we’ve kept all of this tradition.

Music was a huge part of my education

from the older ones in the family who had the guitars.

I believe they left around the time of the era of Franco.

But even before all that,

But even before all that, there were some who had already immigrated here.

there were some who had already immigrated here.

They had come here to France where it wasn’t so bad

in and around Perpignan, Montpellier and Arles.

During Franco's dictatorship,

Spain sought to impose a strict uniform identity

and the Roma were considered outsiders.

Their culture was suppressed,

their music censored, and their movements restricted.

Flamenco gatherings were banned, families were persecuted,

and everyday life became a struggle to survive.

Many Roma fled, carrying with them their songs, stories,

and traditions, a resilient spirit

that would eventually shape the music of the Gipsy Kings.

And so we’ve kept the gypsy traditions

that we got from my grandparents.

It’s a beautiful story, you know

It’s a beautiful story, you know because the history of the gypsies is long,

because the history of the gypsies is long,

it goes back centuries.

And we don't have a lot of writings or literature

of gypsy life, the nomadic life.

But we have continued as travellers.

Centuries of travelling across continents and countries.

And as for us, we’ve ended up

in the south of France in Montpellier.

My parents had a business scrapping cars.

They were scrap merchants

and they played music to entertain themselves,

but they earned their living as scrap merchants.

The gypsies were aware of it,

the bigotry towards them in France.

But they stayed nonetheless.

Often in trouble.

They didn’t want to disrupt...

they didn’t want to create any problems.

But the Baliardo family and everyone

But the Baliardo family and everyone were generally well accepted in Montpellier.

were generally well accepted in Montpellier.

The gypsies were fairly well accepted in that period.

Much of the community were quickly back together

with all our families.

with all our families. We had little houses.

We had little houses.

There were a lot of gypsy families in our neighbourhood,

and it was nice because

it was right by the coast,

and it was...

We were a community.

I went to a primary school,

I went to a primary school, it wasn't far at all.

it wasn't far at all.

They are good memories.

That's what I can remember.

Tonino Baliardo's famous uncle

was Manitas de Plata,

whose real name was Ricardo Baliardo.

He was a highly influential flamenco guitarist

and a key figure in the Baliardo family musical legacy.

Manitas de Plata means "little hands of silver,"

suggesting his hands moved with smoothness, brilliance,

and value of silver on the strings.

Yes, it happened to me one day.

I was listening to Manitas de Plata

My uncles played the guitar as well:

they were also musicians.

they were also musicians. And I took up the guitar very early.

And I took up the guitar very early.

I was seven or eight years old,

and it interested me enormously.

and it interested me enormously. And I continued alone, teaching myself among the trees

And I continued alone, teaching myself among the trees

and I never stopped playing the guitar from there.

I was playing for years and years.

It was my passion.

It was my passion. I was never very good at school,

I was never very good at school,

and every day I couldn't wait to finish

so that I could practice my guitar.

I saw Manitas often because he was my great uncle.

He was part of the family.

He played for us.

It was...

It was amazing.

It was the era of vinyl.

And we listened a lot to music from

rumba music and everything like that.

All the great guitarists.

All the great guitarists. And one time I played in front of Manitas,

And one time I played in front of Manitas,

and he said: “this kid, this kid will go very far”.

“He's a great guitarist”.

Manitas would also partner with Jose Reyes.

At that time, José Reyes

was one of the biggest flamenco singers

in the region

in the region They were second cousins.

They were second cousins.

They played together as partners.

They were playing in New York.

They were playing in New York. He was good friends with Salvador Dali,

He was good friends with Salvador Dali,

with Picasso as well.

I saw the guitars

that had Picasso's drawings on them

on Manitas’s guitar.

on Manitas’s guitar. And with Picasso,

And with Picasso,

And with Picasso, they performed in theatres over there.

they performed in theatres over there.

And then it all took off.

He travelled around the world...

He travelled around the world... they travelled around the world together.

they travelled around the world together.

they travelled around the world together. José Reyes’ father

José Reyes’ father

He said, “This kid is really good”.

“He should form a band with my sons...”

“...and go to Paris”.

“...and go to Paris”. - The Gipsy Kings began as Los Reyes Gipsy Kings,

The Gipsy Kings began as Los Reyes Gipsy Kings,

a family band from the south of France.

Tonino and his brother Paco joined their cousins

Nicholas and Andre Reyes.

They would busk on the streets in the south of France.

It was on this beach,

It was on this beach, in the heart of Saint-Tropez in the late 1970s,

in the heart of Saint-Tropez in the late 1970s,

where people would gather to the sound of flamenco guitar

and vibrant clapping.

Little did they know, on one of those nights,

their lives were about to change forever.

We stayed three months there,

sleeping on the beach.

And often Brigitte Bardot came to see us.

And she would actually follow us

to come and dance with us

at the beach in the evenings.

It was wonderful to be honest,

she was Brigitte Bardot.

she was Brigitte Bardot. She loved the Gipsy Kings.

She loved the Gipsy Kings.

She would come to the camp where our caravans were,

and she would spend the day with us.

She had fun dancing and eating with us.

I was there, I was young,

and she was this superstar!

I was just happy to play so that she could dance.

We had a lot of fun.

Brigitte Bardot played a key role

in bringing attention to them.

They were introduced to French high society

and the celebrity scene, a major turning point

that helped them start performing for the rich and famous

long before their record deal.

We were often happy

We were often happy just playing at parties in Saint-Tropez.

just playing at parties in Saint-Tropez.

There were many parties in apartments.

Often they would call us

to come with our guitars and play.

And lots of times,

Brigitte Bardot would come with us too.

Brigitte Bardot would come with us too. She would come to all the parties.

She would come to all the parties.

There are some stories about “Djobi, Djoba”,

I remember, it's...

we were in the car, we were going to,

I believe we were leaving Saint-Tropez to go to Monte-Carlo

for a small, private party.

And I had my guitar with me,

And I had my guitar with me, and I told Nicolas, I said listen to this:

and I told Nicolas, I said listen to this:

At Saint-Tropez we must do this.

And I hummed “Djobi, Djoba”.

I played my guitar, the chords were a bit bossa nova.

And I played that in the car and sang a bit.

And Nicolas immediately jumped in

and started singing above it.

And we were singing it for the whole journey,

for 200 kilometres.

And from there, in fact, “Djobi, Djoba” was born.

And then we just kept the name “Gipsy Kings”.

We all agreed on it,

and soon enough, we recorded

the first record, the albums, and everything.

And very quickly, we had success.

Success arrived.

Success arrived. We were suddenly touring round the world with it.

We were suddenly touring round the world with it.

After years of playing in the south of France,

their sound began to travel.

Across Europe, to America, to Australia,

and for the first time,

and for the first time, a band singing entirely in Spanish was embraced

a band singing entirely in Spanish was embraced

by the English speaking world.

But for centuries, the word "gypsy" carried a stigma,

a people rarely accepted.

Yet the Gipsy kings broke through every barrier.

We weren't in show business,

like it wasn’t about that at all.

We were just a group of friends

wanting to have fun on the road and make music.

Being on the road for decades brings its own cost.

The fame and applause comes with distance.

And for Tonino that often meant saying goodbye to his kids

as he packed his suitcase for another world concert.

It was always hard leaving the kids

when they were crying and crying,

when they were crying and crying, and they would hide themselves in the suitcases

when they were crying and crying, and they would hide themselves in the suitcases that we would take on the plane.

when they were crying and crying, that we would take on the plane.

that we would take on the plane.

that we would take on the plane. That’s why it’s complicated because

That’s why it’s complicated because

at that time I had little children.

I was away for whole months at a time.

It was difficult not seeing them and...

Ready? - Rolling.

I'm rolling.

All rolling.

I was very close to my father.

My father had become this international star.

It’s somewhat a sad story.

It’s sad because, for me personally,

the Gipsy Kings represented a separation

from my father.

And from the beginning,

And from the beginning, the Gipsy Kings were a big pain for me.

the Gipsy Kings were a big pain for me.

But as I was growing up,

my father always played music for me,

and we always had guitars around,

helping out the community.

There were all these uncles and aunts.

There were all these uncles and aunts. Everyone was like:

Everyone was like:

Everyone was like: “Let’s go! It’s the Gipsy Kings!”

“Let’s go! It’s the Gipsy Kings!”

“Let’s go! It’s the Gipsy Kings!” “It’s guitars, it’s music, it’s a celebration!”

“It’s guitars, it’s music, it’s a celebration!”

And so, that’s how I grew up:

Surrounded by music,

and torn between the fact that

I didn’t really have my dad next to me.

And for the rest of my family,

it was all about celebration and all that.

Growing up the Sons of a legend

carries a unique weight,

the pride of a famous father

and the quiet challenge of living in his shadow.

For Tonino's sons, that legacy has shaped

who they're becoming and the path that has now led them

to become a part of the family legacy.

I was born into music.

Ever since I was very little,

Ever since I was very little, my father was always playing music with Mikael.

my father was always playing music with Mikael.

It's always been a part of my life, you know.

I was born in 1991.

I was born during the success of the Gipsy Kings.

They were at their peak.

They had just played at the Royal Albert Hall

They had just played at the Royal Albert Hall in the 1990 tour.

in the 1990 tour.

Yes, for sure, I was born into it.

My father wasn’t often around.

He travelled a lot,

He travelled a lot, always on the move.

always on the move.

And what happened was, as I grew older,

my father told me:

my father told me: “Come on now, my son,”

“Come on now, my son,”

“Come on now, my son,” “you’ve reached a certain musical level,”

“you’ve reached a certain musical level,”

“so you’re coming with me.”

And that’s when Nicolas and my dad decided

both their sons would be with them on stage

with the Gipsy Kings.

Nicolas, you take Georges Reyes,

and I take my son Mikael Baliardo

because they’re similar ages.

because they’re similar ages. And that’s how I was integrated into the Gipsy Kings.

And that’s how I was integrated into the Gipsy Kings.

As for how I experienced all this?

It was quite

confusing to mentally process.

confusing to mentally process. It was complicated because

It was complicated because

there was this fame that everyone had

and Mikael was forgotten about.

Mikael no longer existed.

I was the son of Tonino

from the band, the Gipsy Kings.

And that was really hard for me.

I’ve got used to travelling with my father ever since 2004,

so it’s been more than 20 years

that I’ve played with him.

that I’ve played with him. And it’s been a pleasure.

And it’s been a pleasure.

It’s stayed in the family with me and Mikael.

It’s pure joy.

It’s pure joy. I was born, and my father was never there.

I was born, and my father was never there.

The success was enormous.

The success was enormous. They travelled around the world non-stop.

They travelled around the world non-stop.

And it continues to this day.

And I’m used to it, you know.

And when my son was born,

I wasn’t there either.

I wasn’t there either. I was in Los Angeles.

I was in Los Angeles.

It was a bit complicated.

But that’s life.

But that’s life. For me, he was my superhero.

For me, he was my superhero.

He was the dad I looked up to,

and I would say, "Wow...”

and I would say, "Wow...” “I want to be like him one day."

“I want to be like him one day."

I mean, I do look like him.

That’s what people say anyway!

He’s like...

He’s like... He’s one of the Greats of music.

He’s one of the Greats of music.

He created the Gipsy Kings, you know.

He’s written so many songs.

He’s central to the history of this band.

And yes, I’m proud of him.

The whole family is proud of him.

The whole family is proud of him. And he’s the best dad.

And he’s the best dad.

Of course, in the early years,

one of the biggest hits for them was "Bamboleo."

This was performed live in 1991 at the Royal Albert Hall.

When we did the first Bamboleo record...

In fact, it came out in 1986, 1987

in a Paris Studio.

I think at the time it was Pathé Marconi.

With “Bamboléo”, there were three parts:

There was

There was a part that I composed,

a part that I composed,

a part that Chico and Nicolas brought,

and a part with

Claude Martinez,

Claude Martinez, who was the producer,

who was the producer,

who was the producer, who took a chance on “Bamboléo” at the beginning.

who took a chance on “Bamboléo” at the beginning.

The visionary French record producer,

Claude Martinez transformed the Gipsy Kings

from local flamenco talents into global superstars.

In the mid 1980s, Martinez recognized the band's potential

and introduced modern pop production elements,

blending the traditional rhythms with contemporary sounds.

He liked it,

He liked it, he wanted to produce the Bamboléo album.

he wanted to produce the Bamboléo album.

When it was released, it quickly...

it went around the world.

The Bamboléo album was an international hit.

And we then had every country reaching out to us

to do tours and concerts.

We had a lot of fun in that time.

And Claude was someone who did a lot

for the Gipsy Kings, who fought for us because

we were singing in Spanish,

and it wasn’t really in fashion at that time.

But he was someone who backed us,

who worked really hard for us

because he believed in us.

because he believed in us. And we respected him a lot.

And we respected him a lot.

And we respected him a lot. And he was a friend.

And he was a friend.

“Bamboléo, Bamboléa” is about

“Bamboléo, Bamboléa” is about someone, who in life, goes left and right.

someone, who in life, goes left and right.

It's about someone going through the motions in life.

Today, we can see that the world is a bit... you know.

So singing those songs

often gives us a lot of happiness

because it reminds people that life

isn’t about being indifferent, or being cruel.

Life is about sharing, love, and friendship.

That’s what life is.

From global TV favorites

to Hollywood blockbusters,

"Bamboleo" has danced its way into pop culture history.

Over the years, this iconic Gipsy Kings anthem

has lit up films like "Glee," "Sing,"

and "The Peanuts Movie,"

and even bought style

and even bought style and rhythm to major international advertising campaigns.

and rhythm to major international advertising campaigns.

Decades after its release,

"Bamboleo" is still played, remixed,

celebrated, and performed around the world.

An enduring soundtrack to joy, culture,

and the universal language of music.

There were periods when

There were periods when playing “Bamboléo” annoyed me a little because

playing “Bamboléo” annoyed me a little because

we have been playing it for years and years.

Even just the other day!

Even just the other day! But by always adding new little compositions

But by always adding new little compositions

to the song when we are on stage,

it means that I still want to keep playing it

because there could always be something interesting.

Especially playing the guitar,

Especially playing the guitar, I always do things differently.

I always do things differently.

And these different little arrangements do bring me joy.

Right now, it's time to hear from another group

of performers who, like Mickey Mouse,

have become international symbols of goodwill,

who transcend the barriers of language through music.

And the music of these guys has taken them

from the gypsy caravans of southern France

to CD players around the world.

At the castle stage, here are the Gipsy Kings!

All right.

- All right. - France gave them their first roar.

France gave them their first roar.

America gave them their encore.

By the '90s,

By the '90s, they weren't a world act, they were the world's act.

they weren't a world act, they were the world's act.

At the concerts in Los Angeles,

At the concerts in Los Angeles, there was Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone.

there was Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone.

There were many stars

of the highest grade.

Madonna invited us

to dinner at her place at the time.

But the stars dreamed of seeing us,

and having fun with us.

And even in England and places like that,

we had a crazy audience.

There was

There was Eric Clapton who was sitting in the front row.

Eric Clapton who was sitting in the front row.

But I didn’t really know who he was.

He was the best guitarist in the world.

And we knew his music, but we didn’t know

what he looked like.

We laughed a lot together.

We laughed a lot together. He was very nice.

He was very nice.

He was very nice. He was a really big fan of the Gipsy Kings.

He was a really big fan of the Gipsy Kings.

He loved the guitar and what we were doing.

Very quickly, we saw that we had reached the entire world.

Millions and millions of people.

Well, yes, we write a lot of music.

However, I have to admit

that releasing a “Bamboléo” or a “Djobi, Djoba”

doesn’t happen every day.

It’s not easy.

It’s not easy. - Over the years, they've arranged music

Over the years, they've arranged music

that hasn't just supported films, but helped define them.

Two stand standout, true cult classic moments.

First, they're unforgettable, flamenco-driven cover

of "Hotel California" for "The Big Lebowski,"

a track that became as iconic as the film itself.

Years later, Pixar came calling.

The result?

The result? A flamenco-laced moment in "Toy Story 3"

A flamenco-laced moment in "Toy Story 3"

that introduced the Gipsy Kings to a whole new generation.

♪ Such a lovely place ♪

♪ Such a lovely place ♪

It was only after it was finished

It was only after it was finished that we saw they had placed it

that we saw they had placed it

that we saw they had placed it in the famous bowling scene.

in the famous bowling scene.

which was incredible.

which was incredible. It was wonderful!

It was wonderful!

We were there to make music,

to share our music, to get it known,

and the American films were fantastic for us.

What we want to do is just enjoy making music.

Whether it’s a hit or not,

we still a joy for us.

we still a joy for us. In fact, the story of “My Way (A Mi Manera)”,

In fact, the story of “My Way (A Mi Manera)”,

it's true that it didn’t fit with the Gipsy Kings style.

It started with me playing some chords.

I was playing “A Mi Manera" on my guitar.

And then I was doing it at parties and all that.

And Nicolas started singing.

and everyone sang along too.

and everyone sang along too. So that’s how it was born.

So that’s how it was born.

So that’s how it was born. I was playing guitar as

I was playing guitar as

I was playing guitar as Nicolas was singing “A Mi Manera” over it.

Nicolas was singing “A Mi Manera” over it.

And we then worked on the album,

And we sang it on all the stages.

For me, the cover I’d love to do,

and I’ve said to my Dad:

“We’ve got to do this!”

The cover I’d like to do the most is

"Numb" by Linkin Park in the Gipsy Kings style.

My father... he is the passion.

He’s like a piece of music.

To me, he’s the most beautiful of the Gipsy Kings.

Period.

Behind the scenes,

Behind the scenes, another story has shaped this journey.

another story has shaped this journey.

After decades of performing side by side,

Tonino Baliardo and Nicolas Reyes

chose to take different paths,

each following his own vision of the Gipsy Kings.

Today, Tonino is on stage with his guitar, his sons,

and young singers, leading the band that bears his name,

while Nicolas performs separately with his sons and band.

I wanted to ask Tonino about that moment

of separation and what it truly meant for him.

Well, it was time to turn the page

because we had spent so many years together...

about forty years.

But things in life pushed us apart.

And I continued

making music with my two sons

as well as some young people

as well as some young people who had grown up in the community.

who had grown up in the community.

Some wonderful artists.

Some wonderful artists. And so there you go:

And so there you go:

both of us do our own thing.

With Georges Reyes, Nicolas’ son.

I grew up with the Reyes’s and the Baliardo’s.

The two families were like one family.

And this separation,

And this separation, seeing as I was so, so close with the son of Nicolas,

seeing as I was so, so close with the son of Nicolas,

It was difficult for us.

It was tricky.

It was tricky. Even today, we’re still calling each other,

Even today, we’re still calling each other,

keeping in touch with each other.

Playing separately

sometimes is a bit tough.

For us, the sons, at least.

For us, the sons, it’s quite difficult.

Nicolas and I still remain quite close

because we still have a lot in common.

But you know, Nicolas is in his band with his own sons

and his new partners.

He does his side, I do my side.

And we’re both the Gipsy Kings,

with all the music that goes with it.

Well yes, we were nominated

for an American Grammy Award.

It’s an album I composed myself

that I produced with Nicolas,

and we took home the Grammy Award.

So it was magnificent because

we had been nominated several times over the years

without ever winning it.

And this time we did.

With Savor Flamenco,

it felt like kind of a reward for my career.

We’re happy, we still talk to each other on the phone.

We even see each other.

We’ve always kept the gypsy soul.

We could decide between us

that we’d do something in two days

if we really wanted to.

So there you go, it’s not impossible.

Because there’s no ill will,

no resentment.

no resentment. Each person can change their side of the story,

Each person can change their side of the story,

but

but it’s not impossible that we could do

it’s not impossible that we could do

a song, or an album or a concert together.

All it needs is time.

In my opinion,

In my opinion, maybe one day we’ll do a joint tour, and maybe

maybe one day we’ll do a joint tour, and maybe

there’ll be musical projects.

Why not?

Why not? They’ve already done a lot of projects for films,

They’ve already done a lot of projects for films,

so maybe they’ll reunite at some point.

We’ll see what the future holds.

We went to see Nicolas Reyes not long ago.

At the Royal Albert Hall.

- At the Royal Albert Hall. - And now we're going to see Tonino Baliardo.

And now we're going to see Tonino Baliardo.

We wanted to see all of them play.

Would've loved to have seen them be as a group together.

But since we can't, we do it individually.

As the Gipsy Kings soundchecked

behind closed doors at London's Troxy Theater,

I took the chance to speak to the people

who had been waiting, some for hours,

drawn here by music that feels both global

and deeply personal.

Here in London, the crowd reflected that.

English, Spanish, Portuguese,

fans spoke about the beauty of hearing Spanish songs.

And then came the revelations.

I absolutely love the Gipsy Kings.

The music,

The music, the dancing,

the dancing,

their lyrics are very emotive.

And I love them.

And I love them. - I think Gipsy Kings were the first artist

I think Gipsy Kings were the first artist

that really introduced me to music, to rhythm,

to soul, to feeling.

I don't speak Spanish, I don't speak much Portuguese,

but even not having an understanding

of the Spanish language, you still feel the music.

You feel the passion inside of it.

Did you know that although they sing in Spanish,

they are actually from the south of France?

No, I didn't.

I didn't know they were French.

I thought they were Spanish.

Did you know that they were French?

I did not know they were French.

No, I thought they were actually Spanish, funnily enough.

I didn't realize they were French.

I didn't realize they were French. But they are very Spanish.

But they are very Spanish.

But they are very Spanish. They have Spanish blood in their veins.

They have Spanish blood in their veins.

Let’s have a fiesta!

Ladies and gentleman,

please welcome, from the south of France,

the one and only,

Tonino Baliardo,

the Gipsy Kings.

Tonino doesn't just play music,

he showcases some truly incredible guitar playing.

A master at work,

where soul, passion, and precision

come together in every note.

At the start of the tours,

I didn’t have a flamenco guitar powerful enough

for the big stages and venues.

And...

And, by chance, I got Gibson

which was a fantastic guitar that was

still acoustic but had a lot of power

and it’s still close to an acoustic flamenco guitar.

No, really, it helped me a lot

because I didn't have a guitar strong enough.

It didn’t exist at the time.

For you, London!

The gold finger.

The maestro: Tonino Baliardo.

The maestro: Tonino Baliardo. Olé!

Olé!

Maestro.

Getting to know the band wasn't straightforward.

My French is limited to whatever I learned

in secondary school, and has long since faded.

But my long summer holidays

and working in Menorca for many years gave me a level

of Spanish that became our common ground.

I couldn't have imagined when listening

to the Gipsy Kings at beach parties

that I'd one day be sitting beside them.

Good morning guys!

Hello boss. Good afternoon!

I thought we were going to be here till tonight!

Okay, let's go.

Let’s go!

Let’s go! - We got the singer. - Check.

We got the singer. - Check.

Passes?

Passes.

- Passes. - There's always a lot of travel involved

There's always a lot of travel involved

There's always a lot of travel involved when you're touring the world.

when you're touring the world.

when you're touring the world. Airports, motorways, long days on the road,

Airports, motorways, long days on the road,

and at times, it's exhausting.

But this stop is a little different.

We head through the English countryside

towards one of the biggest music festivals in the world.

A place steeped in music history,

and one that the Gipsy Kings have never played before.

And they're not just arriving as guests,

they're headlining the Acoustic Stage

at the world famous Glastonbury Festival.

We go to...

We go to... How do you pronounce Glastonbury?

How do you pronounce Glastonbury?

Glastonbury. Go to Glastonbury.

I suppose the very first show we ever did,

that I ever did with them,

that I ever did with them, I can't remember if it was '88 or '89, 1988.

I can't remember if it was '88 or '89, 1988.

It was at The Forum in Kentish Town,

which I think was then called Town and Country.

No, it was The Forum.

No, it was The Forum. And that's the first time I'd seen them perform live.

And that's the first time I'd seen them perform live.

Although I'd signed them to my independent record label,

I'd never seen them perform.

And that was a wow factor,

'cause it was sold out.

'cause it was sold out. It sold out in the last three or four days,

It sold out in the last three or four days,

and that was very special.

Then I realized this band is extraordinary.

There's nothing like this band.

There's nothing like this band. I'd never seen anything like it.

I'd never seen anything like it.

He never ceases to amaze me when I watch him.

He's a genius.

He's a genius. I mean, you know, there's very few

I mean, you know, there's very few

people that can play in his...

And he makes it look so easy.

He makes it look so easy.

That's the interesting part about it.

We met Ray Levy on the first tour in England.

Ray was the associate of Claude Martinez, the producer.

We did Wembley.

We did Wembley. It was a big tour in England,

It was a big tour in England,

but I have beautiful memories of Ray.

but I have beautiful memories of Ray. He was excellent.

He was excellent.

They always do this.

They always do this. They've got this thing.

They've got this thing.

They've got this thing. They try and catch me out on certain things.

They try and catch me out on certain things.

It's a tradition that.

Hello, hello.

These songs demand a lot of energy on stage.

That’s why I love my sons and the young singers.

We’ve been doing wonderful concerts

and touring the world with a lot of success,

and I’m very proud of that.

Yes, we just can't wait.

Yes, we just can't wait. We're really excited to see them.

We're really excited to see them.

We're really excited to see them. We've been waiting all weekend to see them.

We've been waiting all weekend to see them.

He's really excited for the Gipsy Kings.

He's a big super fan, actually.

Yeah.

- Yeah. - I've loved them for years and years and years and years.

I've loved them for years and years and years and years.

I'm here.

I'm here. My dad's not here,

I'm here. My dad's not here, but I'm here because he wants to see them.

My dad's not here, but I'm here because he wants to see them.

but I'm here because he wants to see them.

What's your favorite song?

Probably "Bamboleo."

- Probably "Bamboleo." - "Bamboleo."

"Bamboleo."

"Welcome to the Hotel California."

Yeah, or they're cover of "My Way."

Things were not going quite as planned.

Technical problems delayed the moment.

testing patience and focus.

One, two, one, two.

Check.

Check. No, nothing in it yet.

No, nothing in it yet.

No, nothing in it yet. Took a while, yeah, lovely job.

Took a while, yeah, lovely job.

Took a while, yeah, lovely job. Yeah, we got it.

Yeah, we got it.

Yeah, we got it. One, two, two, 10, 10.

One, two, two, 10, 10.

We're good.

One, two, three.

No, we're good, we're good.

Right, let's do the show.

Right, let's do the show. - Amid the chaos, one voice stayed calm.

Amid the chaos, one voice stayed calm.

Singer Mounin, unshaken.

Yeah, are any of the guitars ready?

No, it's not the same.

Let go, yes?

Are you ready for the Gipsy fiesta?

Even as they took the stage,

the problems weren't over.

the problems weren't over. The sound was still being wrestled into place.

The sound was still being wrestled into place.

Tonino's guitar, barely heard.

Yet the band played on,

Yet the band played on, holding the moment together.

holding the moment together.

Well yes, we had difficulties

because it had to be decided at the last minute.

We hadn’t been able to test it on the stage.

There wasn’t the right equipment,

or some of it was missing for the musicians.

So there were four guitars, I think.

Plus a bassist

and a little drum machine.

There wasn’t a drummer

because we weren’t allowed to have one.

But it was pretty intense,

with a technician who didn’t know us

and which guitars to adjust.

But despite that, we made fire!

And with the Glastonbury crowd,

fire was definitely what they created.

Tonino.

Glastonbury, a selfie, together.

Glastonbury was a triumph.

The connection with the crowd was undeniable,

the energy unforgettable,

and the music reminded us why this stage means so much.

Their performance achieved mainstream attention

with interviews and news programs

taking note of the Acoustic Tent headlining act.

Now I have been to half of the Glastonbury's ever.

19 outta 38.

The Acoustic Tent was absolutely rammed for the Gipsy Kings.

But there were really bad sound problems.

I caught the last 20 minutes of their set,

which ended with two absolute dancefloor bangers,

Pandemonium, huge sing-along, utter joy.

And that kind of sums up Glastonbury.

Back in Montpelier, the journey continued.

In the studio, the band returned

to the heart of their sound,

capturing new music shaped by years on the road,

memory and soul.

In the studio, I listened closely

as the Gipsy Kings explored the next phase of their sound,

shaping the energy of their new album, "Historia."

Super

Super Are we done?

Are we done?

It’s all good?

It’s all good? Alright, let’s go.

Alright, let’s go.

Alright, let’s go. Thank you guys.

Thank you guys.

Thank you guys. Thank you, my friends!

Thank you, my friends!

Thank you, my friends! Well done, well done!

Well done, well done!

That’s enough for the day.

That’s enough for the day. Good work guys!

Good work guys!

Good work guys! That was pretty good, wasn’t it?

That was pretty good, wasn’t it?

Well done.

That was professional

That was professional as my late grandmother would say.

as my late grandmother would say.

I think it’s a vision that will go on.

It will live on for years,

and we can pass it on to our kids

because these are young artists

who grew up with this music.

They have it in their bodies,

and they have a lot of success and talent.

So we must not let it go.

That’s why I love my sons and the young singers.

and it’s the same on Nicolas’s side.

And Gipsy Kings is a name in music

and a style that will endure.

So let’s pass it on to the next generation.

But I tell you, my grandson Milan,

who sings everything,

he has a great voice.

And I’m pushing him bit by bit

to become a singer.

♪ Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel ♪

♪ Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel ♪

Touring alongside Tonino,

the group of talented musicians

carry forward the sound, passion,

and soul that define every performance.

For us tonight,

it’s a great honour to be playing here in France

because we are French

because we are French of gypsy origin.

of gypsy origin.

And it's true that for us, playing in France is

it means a lot to us.

It's our country, and it always warms our hearts

to be able to play in France.

to be able to play in France. And tonight, of course, we're going to

And tonight, of course, we're going to

And tonight, of course, we're going to give the best of ourselves.

give the best of ourselves.

I came back with Tonino at the end of 2016.

And this year, it will have been nine years.

And quite frankly, I haven't seen the years go by at all.

It feels like it’s only been a few years

because our work is so demanding.

Our work is so exciting that the years go by,

and they’re never the same.

There’s always something new.

There’s always something new. Every stage is always new, every tour,

Every stage is always new, every tour,

even though we go back to the United States every year.

But every tour is different, with different emotions.

And frankly, it really goes by at speed.

So my relationship with Tonino and his children?

There is no family connection, but it feels just like it.

For us gypsies, there is a great respect for our elders,

so I see Tonino as an uncle.

And as for his children, Cosso and Mikael,

And as for his children, Cosso and Mikael, we’ve grown up together since we were young.

we’ve grown up together since we were young.

We've evolved in music together.

And that’s the relation.

It’s just like family.

During the filming of this documentary,

Tonino suffered a personal tragedy.

He lost his brother, Paco Baliardo,

a founding member of the Gipsy Kings,

and a pillar of their sound.

Well, he was always with me.

And I always saw a bit of myself in him.

He learnt the guitar the same way as I did,

and he accompanied me.

But he had a lot of patience,

and that helped me a lot because

he was there from the beginning

during the 1980s and 1990s.

And I counted on him a lot

because he had been accompanying me,

and knew how we worked since we were young.

But he was a very important part of the Gipsy Kings.

He was part of the Gipsy Kings story over the years.

A while ago, he had to leave the band

because he was in hospital a lot

and he was rather ill.

And so we gave him time to recover and everything,

but...

but... ...he left us.

...he left us.

It's...

It’s a big loss.

Ah, Paco was adored.

Ah, Paco was adored. He was a god,

He was a god,

He was a god, He was very much...

He was very much...

I miss him a lot because he was very kind.

He was a very good guitarist and good accompanist.

He conquered all the world with Tonino.

He was his accompanist.

He had a huge, huge heart.

We miss him a lot. We adored him.

He was a good gypsy.

I only have good memories with him.

I only have good memories with him. He was a great person.

He was a great person.

Like Tonino, he was very calm,

smiling all the time, very pleasant.

And he’s another angel who went too soon.

He passed at the same time

that we’re working on a new album.

And I wrote an instrumental piece

that I’ve called “Cielo” [Heaven],

and it's dedicated to my brother, Paco.

It's a very, very beautiful theme.

He was...

He was... He was a very simple person.

He was a very simple person.

He was a music lover too.

There you go.

I think he's happy that the story has continued.

It’s his story too.

It’s his story too. And when we play on the stage this evening,

And when we play on the stage this evening,

we’ll be thinking of him.

Tonight, we’ve decided to

dedicate “My Way” to Paco.

When we sing it tonight on the stage,

it will be dedicated to Paco Baliardo.

Hello my friends, we’d like to quickly ask for your attention.

Just for one minute.

There’s something we’re holding very dear tonight.

Recently, a member of the Gipsy Kings,

one of the founding members left our world.

Mr Paco Baliardo, the brother of Tonino Baliardo,

to whom we’ll be paying tribute tonight.

Here in France.

Here in France. Where better to do it?

Where better to do it?

♪ I did it ♪

♪ My way ♪

For Paco Baliardo.

Thank you very much.

Some music doesn't belong to one country,

one language, or one generation.

It speaks to every human heart, to joy, to longing,

to celebration, to loss.

Long after the lights fade

and the last note hangs in the air,

this music will remain, living on in every place it's heard

and in every heart it touches.

At the end of this journey,

I find myself in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer,

here in the Camargue,

here in the Camargue, where so much of this story truly began.

where so much of this story truly began.

A place where gypsies fled to from Spain,

and finally felt at home.

Where the horses run free, the old caravans remain,

and the land remembers.

That's why it has crossed borders, generations, and time,

and why the music of the Gipsy Kings will live on forever.

The Gipsy Kings have reinterpreted

many songs for cinema and "Volere"

was another moment like that.

Originally recorded for the film, "Vanille Fraise,"

in 1989.

They took an Italian classic

and made it unmistakably their own.

And we couldn't leave our story

without one of their most famous songs.

Tonino Baliardo isn't just

the founder of the Gipsy Kings and composer

of the songs we all love.

He's someone who found his calling.

From the moment he picked up a guitar, something connected.

Not ambition, not strategy, but love.

Tonino discovered what he was born to do,

and then he had the courage to share it with the world.

And maybe that's the real legacy here.

That somewhere inside every one of us is our own calling

waiting to be found.

I’ve experienced a lot in my life.

I find that

I find that putting things to the side,

putting things to the side,

trying not to be passive

and following love,

not taking things too seriously and just living.

That’s what matters.

That’s what matters. And thanks to the music that has

And thanks to the music that has

guided me and given me direction like this.

So thank you to music and to all of you.

We leave you with a song

We leave you with a song that Tonino and the band composed

that Tonino and the band composed

and dedicated to Brigitte Bardot,

whose early support in Saint-Tropez

helped bring the Gipsy Kings' music to the world.

Thank you so much.