Los Niños de Sara
Encyclopedia
Los Niños de Sara are Spanish-speaking Gypsies
from Montpellier, France. They perform on their own, but they are best known for the involvement in the musical group Alabina
.
, France, who have been playing together since they were 14 years old. Described as a cross between the Gipsy Kings
and Buena Vista Social Club
, the group blends rumba
and flamenco
music and features a touch of North African influence.
After backing flamenco artists including Manitas de Plata
and Paco de Lucía
, they formed the group Alabina
with vocalist Ishtar
. Alabina, which combined flamenco music and Arabic vocals, topped the World Music and Latin charts in Billboard magazine.
The group is presently recording a new album.
The four cousins are named Antonio ("Tonio") (also written Antoine) Contreras, Ramón Compas, Santiago ("Santi") Lorente, and Coco. Though they speak both Spanish and French, they only sing in their native Spanish. Tonio, the lead male singer, plays guitar. In addition to all providing back-up vocals, Ramón and Santi play guitar and Coco plays percussion.
On their own, Los Niños have produced two CDs: La Cubanita (2001) and Gipsyolé (2003). Their songs often speak of family, love, and God. Los Niños are Catholic.
Their birthdays are: Tonio, March 27; Ramón, January 7; Santi, September 4; and Coco, September 5.
They currently live in France.
Roma in Spain
The Romani people in Spain are generally known as Gitanos. Spanish Romanies belong to the Iberian Kale Romani group, with smaller populations in Portugal and southern France. They tend to speak Caló, which is basically Andalusian Spanish with numerous Romani loan words...
from Montpellier, France. They perform on their own, but they are best known for the involvement in the musical group Alabina
Alabina
Alabina is a French-based group that performs a mix of world music: Middle Eastern, Arabic, French, Hebrew, and Spanish Gypsy music. Alabina consists of lead singer Ishtar, who does the female vocals, and the band Los Niños de Sara, who provide male vocals and music.Although the name of the group...
.
Background
They are cousins from NîmesNîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, France, who have been playing together since they were 14 years old. Described as a cross between the Gipsy Kings
Gipsy Kings
The Gipsy Kings are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, who perform in Spanish with an Andalucían accent. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. Chico Bouchikhi is of...
and Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...
, the group blends rumba
Cuban Rumba
In Cuban music, Rumba is a generic term covering a variety of musical rhythms and associated dances. The rumba has its influences in the music brought to Cuba by Africans brought to Cuba as slaves as well as Spanish colonizers...
and flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
music and features a touch of North African influence.
After backing flamenco artists including Manitas de Plata
Manitas de Plata
Manitas de Plata . is a French Gitano flamenco guitarist.-Life:He was born in a Gypsy caravan in Sète in southern France...
and Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
, they formed the group Alabina
Alabina
Alabina is a French-based group that performs a mix of world music: Middle Eastern, Arabic, French, Hebrew, and Spanish Gypsy music. Alabina consists of lead singer Ishtar, who does the female vocals, and the band Los Niños de Sara, who provide male vocals and music.Although the name of the group...
with vocalist Ishtar
Ishtar (singer)
Ishtar is an Israeli-born pop singer who performs in Arabic, Hebrew, Bulgarian, French, Spanish, and English...
. Alabina, which combined flamenco music and Arabic vocals, topped the World Music and Latin charts in Billboard magazine.
The group is presently recording a new album.
The four cousins are named Antonio ("Tonio") (also written Antoine) Contreras, Ramón Compas, Santiago ("Santi") Lorente, and Coco. Though they speak both Spanish and French, they only sing in their native Spanish. Tonio, the lead male singer, plays guitar. In addition to all providing back-up vocals, Ramón and Santi play guitar and Coco plays percussion.
On their own, Los Niños have produced two CDs: La Cubanita (2001) and Gipsyolé (2003). Their songs often speak of family, love, and God. Los Niños are Catholic.
Their birthdays are: Tonio, March 27; Ramón, January 7; Santi, September 4; and Coco, September 5.
They currently live in France.
Albums
- España Tiene Sabor (2006)
- La Cubanita [Bonus Tracks] (2005)
- Gipsyolé (2003)
- Cubanita (2001)
Compilations
- Oriental Night Club (2004)
- Club Prive: Excellent Night Life for Trendy People (2002)
- Jan des Bouvrie Limited (2002)
- Voile Rouge at St Tropez, Vol. 2 (2001)
- Latin ModernsLatin ModernsThe "Latin Moderns" music series is a compilation of salsa, Latin Rock and latin dance music released by LoveCat Music. The Latin Moderns series was started by Benny Fresco who has compiled and produced the three CDs released so far.-Volume 1 :...
, Vol. 2 (2007) - L' Essentiel (1999)
- The Album (1996)