The Gypsy Queens

A few short years ago, Didier Casnati, the lead singer, guitarist and the soul of the Gypsy Queens, could be found passing an ashtray around after busking gigs in restaurants, marinas and town squares. These days the band play more than 200 shows a year all across the world – they’re offered at least 600 – and an increasing number of those shows are at ultra-exclusive private parties frequented by some of the richest and most famous people on the planet. Bearing that in mind, it’s understandable that Didier has some hard and fast rules of behavior, the first one of which is, when there’s a superstar in the room – and at Gypsy Queens gigs, there generally is – you mustn’t play one of their songs. But what if there are two superstars? Or three? “Well, last summer we were playing a birthday show for Theo Fennell,” Didier says. “And Elton was there sat next to Rod Stewart. Halfway through our set Elton said, ‘Play a song for Rod!’ So I introduced the next one as a Rod song, then sang Crocodile Rock. And he loved it, even when he was complaining that he can’t hit those high notes anymore!”

Then, of course, Rod pipes up and asks Didier for a song for Elton. “So we did Maggie May,” Didier laughs. “And we ended up singing that one together…” The story of the Gypsy Queens dizzying rise is a remarkable one, and the majority of the reason for that is Didier Casnati. This is someone who never particularly wanted, or expected, to be leading a hugely successful group, nor touring the world while doing it. Now, alongside Joseph Hamblin Boone (drummer and singer), Sam Houghton (saxophonist and singer), Alberto Laurella (contrabass player) and Miguel Bosch (guitarist, and singer), the group is performing all over the world, in the most exclusive private parties. “We don’t advertise what we do, and that is precisely why heads of states (51 of them) has hired us to play at their parties; we do it, and don’t talk about it very often, our publicity is minimal, that is one of the qualities of the band” The band has evolved from the modest beginnings of the streets of Nice, to the jet set parties around the world, thanks to Nicole Rubi, owner of the famous “La petite Maison” restaurant in Nice (now Also London, Dubai, Beirut, Istanbul, Cannes, Paris and Miami). Between 1999 and 2011, the band only played private parties, and at the restaurant. It is precisely there, that Nick Raphael (London Records) saw them one night, playing their usual unplugged show, and Bono, of U2, joined them for a jam, in the middle of his dinner. Raphael, would signed them in 2012, after reading an article about the band in a magazine. Produced by the celebrated Larry Klein – who has worked with Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Brian Adams, Herbie Hancock and Melody Gardot – their debut album had guest appearances from an array of talent including Madeleine Peyroux, Booker T (of Booker T and the MG’s), “America” and Graham Nash (of Crosby, Stills, Young & Nash). The Album entered the UK Charts at # 46, and # 1 on Amazon. http://archive.feedblitz.com/89519/~4227884 What drove Nick to sign the Gypsy Queens was seeing a band who are so comfortable getting amongst their audience; singing to them, with them, at them, in a dynamic, energetic and utterly charming way. “They have this wonderful sense of brotherhood,” he says. “Their companionship and camaraderie is all real. There’s been no agent or manager or set-list, just Didier.”

The band has performed publicly at : https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/bands.php?t=p&b=45444 “Glastonbury Festival”: Sun 30th Jun 2013

• http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/2013-line-up-revealed/ (Acoustic Stage)

• https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/30/glastonbury-festival-2013-full-lineup

• “Isle of Wight Festival”

• http://www.summerfestivalguide.co.uk/Festival-News/EntryId/1165/The-Modfather-Paul-weller-joins-the-Isle-of-Wight-Festival-lineup)

• http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-21119370

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-

festivals/9815778/Paul-Weller-to-play-Isle-of-Wight-Festival-2013.html

• http://onthewight.com/2013/01/21/isle-of-wight-festival-2013-paul-weller-joins-the-line-up/

“International Harrogate Festival” 2013,2014 and 2016 *http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/the-spiegeltent-is-back-for-harrogate-international-festivals-1-7919639 http://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2013/05/15/spiegeltent-returns-with-a-week-long-festival/ “Proms in the Park” *http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ev6bp6 The Gypsy Queens draw from a huge repertoire of classic songs (California Dreaming, Volare, Satisfaction, Unforgettable, Tutti Frutti)

that they began by playing on the street – like another classic Klein artist, the brilliant Madeleine Peyroux. It was out there they learnt the rules of busking: never play for someone already having a good time and never speculate on what you’ll make. The band has played for 51 heads of States, and more recently their riotously entertaining performances have found them shoulder to shoulder with high-profile fans like Robert De Niro, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Prince Harry, REM and Quincy Jones. The Gypsy Queens are a truly irrepressible force, but Didier is something else entirely. “We work the crowd so hard because we always want more,” they say. That’s why with The Gypsy Queens there is always one more song, one more joke, one more performance.” Asked if they understands why the band have developed such a high-watt fanbase, they just laugh. “Honesty, guaranteed even the richest and most important people we’ve ever played for understands that we’re being honest. Bono and Elton have seen a million fake smiles. For that reason we are always humble in performance.” In 2014, their second album “Lost in the music” was released, and In 2016,the single “losing myself in the music” went on to win the Akademia award for best Pop/RnB song of the year, this same year has seen the Gypsy Queens awarded “La Estrella de Oro”, a Spanish distinction for professional excellence. The Gypsy Queens is a registered trademark. Discography : -The Gypsy Queens : released Nov. 2nd 2012. Chart : 46 # -“Lost in the music” released June 23rd, 2014 Instagram: thegypsyqueensofficial Facebook : The Gypsy Queens