Gipsy Kings

Formed in 1978, Gipsy Kings has successfully garnered mainstream international interest for the Spanish flamenco guitar.  The band members are the children of gypsy families who fled to the south of France during the Spanish Civil War, and this cultural dynamic is evident in its Western pop melodies infused with Latin rhythms.

Originally called Los Reyes, this band started out playing at weddings and street corners in France until it earned a record deal. While the band's first two albums failed commercially, it gained popularity in 1987 with the release of its self-titled album, which featured the singles "Djobi Djoba", "Bembeleo", and "Un Amor".

Since then, Gipsy Kings has released nine studio albums. Its cover of The Eagles' "Hotel California" appeared in The Big Lebowski and HBO's Entourage, and Toy Story 3 features a cover of Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me".