The Gypsy Queens
The Gypsy Queens is a French pop band formed in Nice by Didier Casnati. They play a large repertoire of multi-lingual covers, with a rich vocal style likened to bands such as The Beach Boys or The Beatles.
The Gypsy Queens | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Nice, France |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | Didier Casnati Joan Chavez Liam Hornsby Tyler Gasek Geronimo Ribas |
| Past members | Joseph Hamblin Boone Miguel Bosch Juan Francisco Rey Toro Sam Houghton Alberto Laurella Manuel Polin Jason King Jay Metcalf David Zincke Anders Klunderud Fred Novelli Jack Kane Jeremy Kola Jeremy Trabucco Miguel Bosch |
| Website | gypsyqueens |
Although the band successfully released albums in 2012 and 2014 they are first and foremost a performing band, typically playing at over 200 private events a year. They were "discovered" by the likes of Sir Elton John and Nicolas Sarkozy and have been mainstays of the private party circuit of the rich and famous ever since. Founder Didier Casnati claims "we are the most famous band you have never heard of".
History Edit
2007–2011: Formation and covers Edit
In 2007, Italian singer Didier Casnati broke his duo with Philip Jones after seven years and formed The Gypsy Queens with another five members.[1] The band play an international repertoire of acoustic pop cover versions, and all members sing, giving them a style which reviewers liken to The Beach Boys and The Beatles.[2][3] They played the role of The Plastic People of the Universe in the Tom Stoppard play Rock 'n' Roll, from 26 September 2008, to 23 October 2008, in the Theatre National de Nice. In 2011, Casnati saw a decline in the local clientele of the band, and managed to get an article in an airline magazine in order to restore the business for the band in the south of France; that article led to singing with London Records and Universal Music Group.
2012–present: Music releases and private party circuits Edit
The band recorded The Gypsy Queens with record producer Larry Klein (who has worked with Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock and Madeleine Peyroux) in Los Angeles, California, in April 2012.[1] The album includes the songs "L'Americano", "Aicha", "Ventura Highway" and "Marrakesh Express". It features vocals from Madeleine Peyroux, Graham Nash, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, as well as piano by Booker T. Jones. The album was released 2 November 2012 and debuted at number 46 in the UK Albums Chart.[4] Their second single "l'Italiano", featuring James Bond Casino Royale Actress Caterina Murino was an international success, achieving several million views on YouTube, in just a couple of weeks.[5][6] They performed at Glastonbury Festival[7] and Isle of Wight Festival.[8]
After the success of their first album, the band recorded Lost in the Music (Sonico Productions Ltd). Produced by lead singer Didier Casnati, it was recorded in London's famous RAK Studios, and finalised in Los Angeles. The album includes the songs "Do you St. Tropez", "Losing myself in the music", "Sunny" and "Parole, Parole". It features vocals from Ben Taylor, and Hayley Westenra, and was mixed by multiple Grammy-winning sound engineer Helik Hadar. The band themselves describe the albums as an "expensive but necessary business card". In 2019, The Gypsy Queens performed for billionaire Harry Macklowe's wedding to Patricia Landeau[9] and David Lee's wedding to Caroline Wozniacki[10][11]
In February 2020, The Gypsy Queens recorded 2 singles with record producer Larry Klein at The Village in Los Angeles, "I'm into Something Good", featuring Herman's Hermits Peter Noone who originally made the song famous in 1965, and Buona Sera, as part as the Album "Reminiscing with friends" (Sonico Productions Ltd 2023).[12] The cover of the single was photographed by iconic Photographer Marco Glaviano in Saint Barthélemy
In 2022, their single "L'Americano" was featured in the Netflix Movie "Love in the villa", directed by Mark Steven Johnson, and starring Kat Graham and Tom Hopper.[13][14]
On October 13 2023, The Gypsy Queens and Tony Danza released a video clip for the song "Buona Sera" with cameo appearances from Michele Hicks and Nadia Farès as well as Joe Gannascoli.[15] The original story was written by John Patrick Shanley, it was shot in New York[16] and Nice.[17][18][19]
Studio albums Edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [20] | SCO [21] | |||||||||||||
| The Gypsy Queens |
| 46 | 50 | |||||||||||
| Lost in the Music |
| — | — | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Singles Edit
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [20] | SCO [24] | |||||||||||||
| "L'Americano" | 2012 | 53 | 50 | The Gypsy Queens | ||||||||||
| "L'Italiano" | 2013 | — | — | |||||||||||
| "Do You Saint Tropez?" (featuring Hayley Westenra) | 2014 | — | — | Lost in the Music | ||||||||||
| "Buona sera" (featuring Tony Danza) | 2023 | — | — | Reminiscing with friends | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Members Edit
- Didier Casnati – Lead vocals (2007–present)
- Joan Chavez – Double bass (2021–present)
- Tyler Gasek – Saxophone (2022–present)
- Liam Hornsby – Drums (2021–present)
- Geronimo Ribas – Guitar (2023–present)
- Former members
- Patricio Bottcher Saxophone (2021–2022)
- Luca Fiorentini Guitar (2021–2023)
- Alberto Laurella – Double bass (2018–2020)
- Sam Houghton – Saxophone (2018–2020)
- Juan Francisco Rey Toro – Drums (2018–2020)
- Joseph Hamblin Boone – Guitar (2018–2020)
- Manuel Polin – Drums (2007–2017)
- Jason King – Double bass (2007–2014)
- Jay Metcalf – Saxophone (2007–2014)
- David Zincke – Guitar (2007–2010)
- Anders Klunderud – Guitar (2010–2017)
- Fred Novelli – Double bass (2014–2018)
- Jack Kane – Saxophone (2014–2018)
- Jeremy Kola – Guitar (2017–2018)
- Jeremy Trabucco – Drums (2017–2018)
- Miguel Bosch – Guitar (2018)
- Timeline
Awards and nominations Edit
| 2016 | Estrella de Oro Excelencia Professional | Won |
References Edit
- ^ a b Sweeting, Adam (10 December 2012). "Gypsy Queens interview: from the Côte d'Azur to the stars" – via telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "The Gypsy Queens to play at La Petite Maison Dubai".
- ^ Connolly, Matthew (5 July 2018). "Review: Gypsy Queens, Harrogate Music Festival".
- ^ "GIPSY QUEENS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
- ^ "l'Italiano on imdb
- ^ The Gypsy Queens "l'Italiano" music clip on Youtube
- ^ "Glastonbury Festival – 2013 line-up revealed".
- ^ "Paul Weller to play Isle of Wight Festival 2013". BBC News. 21 January 2013.
- ^ Harry Macklowe and Patricia Landeau host reception dinner at future apartment
- ^ Inside Caroline Wozniacki’s Wedding at Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany
- ^ Fireworks, Games & Bridesmaid Serena Williams! All the Details on Caroline Wozniacki’s Wedding
- ^ "Larry Klein Produced 2 singles with The Gypsy Queens". worldsend.com. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- ^ "Love in the Villa sound track full list songs Netflix movie". netflixlife.com. 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Love in the Villa sound track songs music Netflix". hitc.com. 1 September 2022.
- ^ The Gypsy Queens & Tony Danza"Buona Sera Signorina" music clip on Youtube
- ^ "The Gypsy Queens & Tony danza devoilent le clip de Buona Sera Signorina". aactunews.fr. 17 October 2023.
- ^ "The Gypsy Queens The Most Famous band you have never heard of". wicz.com. 13 October 2023.
- ^ "The Gypsy Queens The Most Famous band you have never heard of". htv10.tv. 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Un nouveau clip des The Gypsy Queens". nice24.fr. 13 October 2023.
- ^ a b "UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 16 December 2012 – 22 December 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "The Gypsy Queens by The Gypsy Queens on Apple Music". iTunes. 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Lost in the Music by The Gypsy Queens on Apple Music". iTunes. 22 June 2014.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100: 23 December 2012 – 29 December 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
External links Edit
- gypsyqueens
.com, the band's official website - The Gypsy Queens at AllMusic