Canut Reyes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canut Reyes
Reyes in 2018
Background information
Birth name	François Reyes
Born	(1954-06-09) 9 June 1954 (age 71) Strasbourg, France
Genres	Flamenco Romani music
Occupations	Musician songwriter painter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1974–present

François Reyes (born June 9, 1954), known as Canut Reyes, is a talented French musician. He is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and even a painter! Canut is famous for being a part of the popular music group Gipsy Kings. His family has Spanish Gitano roots.

Who is Canut Reyes?

Canut Reyes was born in Strasbourg, France. His father, Jose Reyes, was a well-known flamenco singer. Flamenco is a special type of Spanish music and dance. His mother was Clementine Nésanson.

Early Life and Family Music

Around 1974, Canut joined a music group with his father and brothers. They called themselves Jose Reyes et Los Reyes. They played their own style of flamenco music. They often performed at private parties in the south of France. Sadly, Jose Reyes passed away in 1979.

Becoming a Gipsy King

After their father's death, the brothers teamed up with their cousins, the Baliardos. They decided to form a new band. They chose the name Gipsy Kings. This name honored their "gypsy" heritage. The word "Reyes" also means "kings" in Spanish.

The Gipsy Kings released their first two albums. These were Allegria in 1982 and Luna de Fuego in 1983. Even with support from famous people, the band didn't become widely known yet. So, Canut and his brother Patchaï left the group for a while.

Solo Music and Rejoining the Band

Canut Reyes kept making music with other groups. He mostly played at private events. In 1989, he released his first solo album. It was called Bolero. This album was a special tribute to a composer named Maurice Ravel.

Meanwhile, the Gipsy Kings signed a new music contract. They released another album called Gipsy Kings in 1987. Then came Mosaïque in 1989. Canut was not part of making these albums. However, he joined the Gipsy Kings again for their world tour after Mosaïque came out.

In 2001, Canut met brothers Jean and Gildas Boclé in Japan. This meeting led to a new musical project. They worked together on Gitano, which was Canut's second solo album. It was released in 2012.

Canut Reyes' Music Albums

A discography is a list of all the music albums an artist has released. Here are the albums Canut Reyes has been a part of:

Solo Albums

• Bolero (1989)
• Gitano (2012)

Music with Jose Reyes et Los Reyes

• Jose Reyes & Los Reyes (1974)
• Gypsy Poet (1977)
• The Love of One Day (1978)

Music with Los Reyes

• Festival of Saintes Maries de la Mer (1982)
• Tribute to Jose Reyes (1991)

Music with Celtic Tales (Boclé Brothers)

• Crossfields (2010)

Learn More About Canut Reyes

• New Flamenco
• Flamenco rumba

In Spanish: Canut Reyes para niños