The Gypsy Queens is an international 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.
Although the band successfully released albums in 2012 and 2014 they are first and foremost a performing band, typically playing at over 120 private events a year, and the pioneers of "roaming" or "strolling" type of performances. 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 2007–2011: Formation and covers In 2007, Italian singer Didier Casnati broke his duo with Philip Jones after seven years and formed The Gypsy Queens with another five members. 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. 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 signing with London Records and Universal Music Group.
2012–present: Music releases and private party circuits 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 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. 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. They performed at Glastonbury Festival and Isle of Wight Festival.
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 and David Lee's wedding to Caroline Wozniacki
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). 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.
On 13 October 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. The original story was written by John Patrick Shanley, it was shot in New York and Nice. The Video Clip was a huge success achieving over a Million views in just one week.
On 3 November 2023 the band released "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)", a second single for their album "Reminiscing with Friends" with legendary singer Lulu. The song had been a major hit in 1969.
Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions UK SCO The Gypsy Queens Released: 2 November 2012 Format: CD, digital download Label: London, Universal 46 50 Lost in the Music Released: 23 June 2014 Format: CD, digital download Label: London, Universal — — Reminiscing with Friends Released: 17 November 2023 Format: digital download Label: Sonico, Absolute, Universal — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chartpositions Album UK SCO "L'Americano" 2012 53 50 The Gypsy Queens "L'Italiano" 2013 — — "Do You Saint Tropez?"(featuring Hayley Westenra) 2014 — — Lost in the Music "(I'm Into) Something Good"(featuring Peter Noone) 2021 — — Reminiscing with friends "Buona sera"(featuring Tony Danza) 2023 — — Reminiscing with friends "Oh me Oh my"(featuring Lulu) 2023 — — Reminiscing with friends "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Members Didier Casnati – Lead vocals Joan Chavez – Double bass Tyler Gasek – Saxophone Liam Hornsby – Drums Geronimo Ribas – Guitar
Former members Patricio Bottcher Saxophone Luca Fiorentini Guitar Alberto Laurella – Double bass Sam Houghton – Saxophone Juan Francisco Rey Toro – Drums Joseph Hamblin Boone – Guitar Manuel Polin – Drums Jason King – Double bass Jay Metcalf – Saxophone David Zincke – Guitar Anders Klunderud – Guitar Fred Novelli – Double bass Jack Kane – Saxophone Jeremy Kola – Guitar Jeremy Trabucco – Drums Miguel Bosch – Guitar
Timeline
Awards and nominations 2016 Estrella de Oro Excelencia Professional
References
External links , the band's official website