The Gypsy Queens

The Gypsy Queens
Origin Nice, France
Genres Pop
Years active 2000-present
Labels London Records
(Universal Music Group)
Associated acts Booker T. Jones, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, Madeleine Peyroux, Graham Nash, Dean Parks
Website gypsyqueens.com
Members Didier Casnati
Alberto Laurella
Sam Houghton
Joseph Hamblin-Boone
Miguel Bosch
Past members Fred Novelli
Jack Kane
Jeremy Kola
Jeremy Trabucco
Jason King
Manuel Polin
Jay Metcalf
Anders Klunderud
Philip Jones
David Zincke
James Lomas

The Gypsy Queens is a French pop band, originating from Nice and signed to London Records (Universal Music Group).[1][2]

The original band consisted of Didier Casnati, and Philip Jones, a duo of buskers.[3] The duo was so successful, that other musicians started joining, and the band has been a quintet since 2007. The band was made famous in the private party circles by Elton John, and more publicly by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who saw them perform at the famous Niçois restaurant "La Petite Maison"[4] and who hired them for their personal events.

On 2 November 2012, the band released its debut album, The Gypsy Queens, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 46.

On 23 June 2014, the band released their second album Lost in the Music, recorded at London RAK Studios, mixed and mastered in Los Angeles. The album features guests such as Hayley Westenra and Ben Taylor, and was produced by Didier Casnati.

The band is known for performing 200 private parties around the world every year, and having played for 51 heads of States, amongst a vast list of celebrities and millionaires around the world. Didier Casnati's famous quote to describe the band is "we are the most famous band you have never heard of" The band continues to perform private parties around the world. James Lomas, of the original cast of Billy Elliot, has joined the band in 2015, and left the band that same year. The band is associated with the famous jewelry brand Chopard. Casnati is also known for his hard work ethic, and has managed the band since its creation. The band doesn't use the help of managers, agents, or other collaborators.

History

Origins and members

The group met in Nice in the year 2000. It was originally composed of buskers that would get together to perform on the flower market of Nice. The Gypsy Queens began with 2 musicians, Philip Jones from Los Angeles and Didier Casnati from Varese. The band is currently composed of Didier Casnati, The lead singer, Joseph Hamblin Boone who plays drums, Miguel Bosch on guitar, Alberto Laurella on bass and Sam Houghton on saxophone. All band members sing, and their style is acoustic pop, with The Beach Boys, The Beatles and The Eagles influenced vocals. The band's line up that was signed to Universal was composed of members from all around the world:

  • Didier Casnati, the lead singer and front man, was born in Italy
  • Jason King, the double-bass player, is from the United Kingdom
  • Anders Klunderud, the guitarist, is from Norway
  • Jay Metcalf, the saxophonist, is from the United States
  • Manuel Polin, the drummer, is from Mexico

Notable appearances

The Gypsy Queens 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. The leading roles of the play were played by Pierre Vaneck and Maruschka Detmers.

The Gypsy Queens performed at Glastonbury Festival and Isle of Wight in 2013.

The band has performed in front of the likes of Elton John, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Quincy Jones, Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Prince William, Prince Harry, Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Cara Delevingne, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Sir Philip Green, Joan Collins, Prince Albert of Monaco, Bono, Silvio Berlusconi, Janet Jackson, Adrien Brody, Billy Zane, Francis Ford Coppola, Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney, Julian Lennon, David Coulthard, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jean Reno, Denise Rich, Michael Caine, Woody Allen, Paris Hilton, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Flavio Briatore, Jude Law, Madonna, Simon Cowell, Alain Delon, Natalie Cole, Jane Fonda, Donna Summer, Bill Murray, Michael Douglas, Ralph Fiennes, Eros Ramazzotti, Andy Garcia, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Sean Penn, Lance Armstrong, Lulu, David Cameron, Michael Bloomberg, Emeli Sandé, Kevin Spacey, Diego Maradona, Michael J Fox, Ronnie Wood, Lakshmi Mittal, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Imelda May, Noel Gallagher, Sacha Baron Cohen, Duncan Bannatyne, Anna Jagodzinska, Beyoncé, Huey Lewis, Daniele de Rossi (wedding), Nico Rosberg, Claudio Ranieri, Tamara Ecclestone, Petra Stunt, Jean Todt, Slavica Ecclestone, Lothar Matthäus, Wolfgang Marguerre, Michelle Yeoh, Naomi Campbell Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando Alonso, FC Bayern Munich, Roy Makaay, Mélanie Laurent,[5] David Hasselhoff,[6] Giorgio Armani,[7] amongst others, or at events such as the inauguration of The Shard Building in London, and all the Jet Set's parties.

2012: debut album

After signing a record deal with London Records, 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.

The album features songs including "L'Americano", "Aicha", "Ventura Highway" and "Marrakesh Express". It also features vocals from Madeleine Peyroux, Graham Nash, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, as well as pianist Booker T. Jones.

The album made the band very famous in Vietnam, thanks to the second single L'Italiano produced and directed by Casnati, that has accomplished over 1 million view in only a couple of weeks on YouTube.

2014: Lost in the Music

After the success of their first album, the band recorded Lost in the Music Produced by lead singer Didier Casnati recorded in London's famous RAK Studios, and finalized in Los Angeles.

The album features songs including "Do you St. Tropez", "Losing myself in the music", "Sunny" and "Parole, Parole". It also features vocals from Ben Taylor, and Hayley Westenra, and was mixed by multiple grammy winner sound engineer Helik Hadar.

The album did not reach the charts in the UK, but has been a continuous success being played on radios around the world regularly since its release.

The band describes the albums as an "expensive but necessary business card".

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
The Gypsy Queens 46
Lost in the Music --

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
2012 "L'Americano"
(featuring The Boys from Made in Chelsea (single version) or Madeleine Peyroux (album version))		 53 The Gypsy Queens
2014 "Do you St Tropez"
(featuring Hayley Westenra (single version) or Ben Taylor (album version))		 -- Lost in the Music

Awards and nominations

2016Estrella de Oro Excelencia ProfessionalWon

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (10 December 2012). "Gypsy Queens interview: from the Côte d'Azur to the stars" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "The Gypsy Queens - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music". BBC.
  3. ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (15 October 2012). "Gypsy Queens busk for Sick Kids in Edinburgh". The Edinburgh Reporter.
  4. ↑ "The Gypsy Queens to play at La Petite Maison Dubai".
  5. ↑ "PHOTOS - Le groupe The Gypsy Queens à la table de Mélanie Laurent, Sidney Toledano et Ana Girardot lors du 18e Grand Bal de Deauville, au profit de l'association Care Fr".
  6. ↑ "Hayley Roberts; David Hasselhoff; JASON KING; GYPSY QUEENS - Dafydd Jones". dafjones.photoshelter.com.
  7. ↑ Olsen, Kerry (23 February 2017). "Giorgio Armani, King of Milan Nightlife" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ↑ "The Gypsy Queens by The Gypsy Queens on Apple Music". 1 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Lost In the Music by The Gypsy Queens on Apple Music". 22 June 2014.
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