Unfortunately she never got the recognition she deserved for being a beautiful guitarist but she was always brilliant as a musician wish she had gotten more known for that part
Well, she's not dead yet. And, ironically, through youtube, she is now getting the recognition. I've read she studied under Andres Segovia. She performed in 2017 with Pink Martini to critical acclaim at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. She lives in Beverly Hills too.
What's worse is that she was characterized as the "dumb blond" something I remember well as a youngster watching her on various TV shows. I had no idea she is so brilliantly talented - wow! What a loss that her talent was not made apparently many years ago.
Thanks for making me aware of Charo's musical proficiency. I remember her as a sort of TV personality way back in the day but never appreciated her as a musician.
She was a child prodigy that studied under Segovia and is known as second only to him. Xavier Cugat brought her to the U.S. from Spain when she was young. Every time I hear her play classical guitar I tear up as she plays beautifully. The techniques she uses are so demanding and she does a great job.
It was always a treat whenever Charo was a guest on variety or talk shows back in the day. She was fantastic performing or interviewing. She usually upstaged everybody, in a good way. I would say that her celebrity, her personality combined with looks and sexuality, did overshadow her guitar playing for the general public, but anybody who saw her live was blown away.
A young boy my dad would watch her on TV and I always thought of her as a comical bimbo. The first video of her playing guitar I was blown away and thought beautiful woman and talented musician. So much respect. Not only does she sound great she's beautiful too.😊
Charo said something to the effect of.... ."In the rest of the world, I'm known as a serious Musician. In the USA, I'm the cuchi cuchi girl. That's OK. I cuchi cuchi all the way to the bank"
@@theexmann She was born in 1941 but has lied about her age for years. She claims 1951 but she's older than that. It doesn't take away from the fact that she was an amazing musician.
Charo is outstanding! I remember as a kid watching her on the Johnny Carson show; unfortunately in those days, she could only get recognition for playing a sex object. But, thankfully times have changed and great on you Fil for recognizing all the various artists!
But Johnny always had her play when she came on the show, and everyone respected her when they heard her. I remember the first time I heard "Leyenda" (Asturias) is was Charo on Carson.
She started out with band leader Xavier Cugat. She is remembered mostly as a beautiful celebrity, and many people were unaware of her masterful guitar playing. Wow, she could play! I was always envious of her playing, her hair, and her beauty. I played pretty well, back then, but I look like a stump.
@@wingsofpegasus I was very surprised That you did a Charo episode ,you are quite thorough Fil, I am Impressed and I do not Impress easily,take care pal.
I only recently discovered that Charo was an absolute master, a virtuoso of Flamenco Guitar. I only knew her as a comedian, but oh, has my mind been changed! So much humble respect!!!
Sadly she was more well known in the States as a famous Cuban bandleader's wife. She was married to Xavier Cougat. She was only about 17 when she began appearing with him. She became more of a novelty/comedy act here. She's also a fabulous Flamenco dancer as well as a guitarist. Over here it was only musicians that recognized her true talent; the general audience never took her seriously.
Wow wow wow! My god I used to watch her on comedy sitcoms! Unique, exacting and melodic! That was truly dazzling! How sad I didn’t know she was that good , that will definitely change! Thanks Fil awesome vid!!’
That she studied with Segovia is an Interesting fact but keep in mind that Segovia was a classical player whose approach was not only completely different than what we saw here but that he also despised flamenco for its "nauseating rasguedo." An amazing fact as he made the Malaguena, which is not so much a composition as it is a framework of one of the twelve flamenco forms, a huge pop culture success. Her technique here is very traditional...watch her use of thumb for the melody. Not at all classical technique. Fil...sometimes you say what is on my mind. I grew up with Charo as a pop culture figure. Sadly she was known as the "Hoochie Girl" and was mostly an actress known for her flamboyant personality and for being very sexy. She only unleashed her guitar skills to the greater public after that persona was well established and indeed her playing prowess was viewed by mainstream consumers of pop pablum as being a novelty. Blatant sexism of a bygone era. Those of us with blisters and broken nails on our fingers knew better. Thank you so very much for bringing her into the proper light. She deserved much more than she got.
Sean Woodburn I watched her as a kid. I was learning guitar and remember watching her play flamenco and just being mesmerized by her skill. Then when I hit puberty I noticed how hot she was. But that never overrode my respect for her talent.
@@josephperreault7047 With all due respect there are very few guitarists of any ethnicity who play both styles at a very high level. The techniques are completely different and the rhythms of the original 12 torques are nearly impossible to notate. The best players say you learn the rhythmic forms from.sitting on grandmothers knee. Flamenco was considered "gypsy music" ...while that is certainly true, the connotation unfortunately is vulgar. Segovia did not relate at all to these people and was quite vocal about detesting flamenco. It is interesting to note that many baroque and classical composers felt the same way about "peasant music" and yet they borrowed and sterilized many of the dance forms. "Gigue" and "Sarabande" are obvious examples. Segovia could no more play flamenco authentically than he could play trombone. His rendition of the Malaguena is technically flawless in a classical context but it is sterile. It could not be danced nor sung to. Guitar is actually third chair in flamenco...dance is most important, singing next and then guitar. Rhythm is everything and lacking a guitar dancers will dance and singers will sing to the rhythms of palmas,(clapping), and golpe. Anyway...long winded response given in the spirit of sharing. Cheers!
@@seanwoodburn2616 it was the new wave of flamenco that segovia detested not old traditional flamenco. Of course both old and new equally share influences and origins from Arabic, Jewish, gypsy music, that's the heart of sevilla! Segovia was being hard headed in this case.. . That's why Paco de lucia is remembered more than segovia 😉
@@seanwoodburn2616 I wouldn't consider her a 'real' flamenco guitarist. For one her posture and right hand technique are far too rigid to employ all the various techniques that are required. Sure, she's learnt a couple of things from it but ultimately this is 'fake' flamenco, simply a gimmick that your average Joe, ie the general public, would be impressed by.
Her husband wrote the Malagueña for her... her playing is very respected all over the world... she was also very funny and full of life. A beautiful talent altogether. This world needs more energy like hers.
As I get older and older I'm really coming to appreciate what individual spirits we all have and how we so affect one another with them. She's quite luminous! Same with Dolly Parton. Both great and talented entertainers with good spirits and a gift for making you feel so, SO good.
@@vdavis4785 Yeah, I saw that and thought that's impossible. Malaguena was part of the Andalucia Suite composed in 1928/ Charo's parents probably weren't even born yet.
@@josephplumb4130 I'm not so sure about Charo's parents. Charo's true age seems to be a secret more closely guarded than the combination to the vault at Fort Knox. 😄
Fil, thank you for your willingness to review guitarists from all genres and styles. Charo deserves your respect. You're posts are truly illuminating. Thanks, from the USA.
Charo is sick... nice work WoP I also realized that by making these vids you expose a lot of people to talented guitarists they never heard of or werent expecting!
Thanks, Fil! Cool!! you did a video on her, she's amazing I remember the little TV crush I had on her back then lol. But she is an amazing guitarist still out there playing and looking great. There is footage of her jamming with Roy Clark out there I remember seeing the show as a kid. Great channel bro!
Johnny Carson loved having her on a guest on the Tonight Show .during the 70s . I had forgotten about her until iI seen this video .Thanks for sharing .
Thank you for this! I started classical guitar lessons because of Charo & Mason Williams' "Classical Gas". Love the respect & joy you show for all musical genres.
Wow I honestly had no idea she even played guitar. All I remember is her on either Carson or something like the Love Boat. She played the hot bimbo very well. Phil man this is great you showed this to those of us who never knew. Great!!!!
Unfortunately, Charo seemed to get more publicity for her persona as an actress and "Coochie Coochie" girl than for her playing. It was several years before I even knew she was a musician. What an amazing talent, indeed! Thanks, Fil! 👍
from Wikipedia: Charo began playing guitar at the age of 9 and trained under the famed Andrés Segovia. In 1966 when she was 15 years old, she married 65 year old bandleader Xavier Cugat and they moved to the United States. In the late 1960s and 1970s, she became a ubiquitous presence on American television, frequently appearing as a guest star on series such as Laugh-In, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She is known for her uninhibited and exuberant manner, vague age, heavy Spanish accent, and the catch-phrase "cuchi-cuchi." (and not known for her fabulous guitar skills)
Charo was also in a skit on The Carol Burnett Show where Carol played Charo's mother & Tim Conway was a talent scout, I think. Anyway, it was hilarious.
6 років тому+2
Wow, I going to have to check that out! Three outstanding talents! Thanks! 👍😊
Having lived in Spain, I adore Flamenco. I was watching this very video of Charo’s earlier and I thought I should send it your way for analysis…. And then your video analysis cropped up. Joy! Excellent as always.
Working in Vegas in a news station I met her as the station was doing a interview with her. Super nice lady. She is always on 10. She is exactly as she seems. I was bummed it was not a musical segment and just a interview. But the few of us who knew how talented she is where geeking out.
I have been a charro fan most all of my life and I never had any idea she could play guitar like this. As a guitar player myself I was very surprised. All I ever knew of this girl was Gucci Gucci. She definitely didn't get the recognition she deserved as a musician
Yes, she was a celebrity. Love her, she was always funny. I knew she played guitar but it has many, many years since I heard her play. What a treat! Thanks, Fil!
She was one of my dad's favorite personalities. Here in the US she did do concerts and like Roy Clark and Jim Staffard, she was a crack up and a all around entertainer. Quite the whole package. Choochi choochi 😁
She is amazing and fortunately still playing!! if she ever tours over there check it out. She got her start doing comedy and throwing some guitar in. Guitar was her true passion. But through the 60s she did a lot of variety shows and really tried to take time to showcase music. I saw her live a few years ago and the first part of her show was singing and comedy, the second part was 50 minutes of solid amazing flamenco! If you want to check out her at her funniest look up Charo on Carol Burnett show
Hey Fil! Great video as always. Charo and Liona Boyd are my two favorite female guitarists. As much as I like playing metal and good ol' rock and roll, to be able to incorporate different styles of music is key to my daily playing. Many thanks for your videos.
Growing up in the 70's, I remember seeing her on TV and she was this kooky person that played up her hispanic accent. At some point I saw her perform on the guitar and it was one of those jaw dropping moments. My wife and I saw her live back in the 90's at what we call the Big E, (The Eastern States Exhibition) and I wondered what kind of a show she would put on. She was great, charming, funny, and that guitar, omg. She is a terrific entertainer and unfortunately, at least in the States, she did suffer from exactly what Fil said in terms of the celebrity diverting from the appreciation of the talent. Thankfully there are channels like this where that talent can be highlighted again.
I don't know what the hell all these people in the comments are saying, because I grew up in the 70's and Charo was known first and foremost as a phenomenally talented guitarist. She always had a musical performance on the Love Boat, or Fantasy Island, or whatever other show she was on. In the "variety" era, entertainers thrived if they could be dynamic and multidimensional. Acting + Talent + Comedy = Superstar. The whole "Cuche Cuche" jokes and routine (developed by HER) was a brilliant way to be humorously sexually provocative on family friendly tv so that the adults got the jokes, and it went over the heads of the kids, who thought she was just cartoonish and funny. I was one of those kids, she made me laugh and got me interested in guitar.
Another of my favorites. Charo was known mostly as a goofy, hot chick during her highest level of celbrity in the US, but there was a good level of awareness that she owned the flamenco guitar. My guitar teacher insisted that I study her work if I wanted to learn to play. You just keep knocking them over the fences, Fil.
I became aware of Charo in the 60s on late night shows like Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin etc. She was the wife of Xavier Cugat who was an orchestra leader. She appeared with or without her husband but always sang and danced with a flourish and dressed in sexy clothes and always acted comically. Then, one day she pulled out her guitar and blew everyone away. She was taken seriously since then. She started playing guitar at 9 and at 14 she studied classical guitar with Andres Segovia.Thanks for your great videos.
I just found out about Charo being such a great musician a couple of years ago, thanks to youtube recs. I was too little when she was big here in the US as the "Cuchi Cuchi" comedienne to know her...only vague recollections of a Love Boat episode & various appearances on variety shows in passing, because I didn't watch them. I was so mad at being cheated out of all of these years of amazing music!
"¡Cuchi cuchi!" I actually noticed her first as an actress - she was pretty funny. Then years later I saw her play the guitar, and I was floored. What an INCREDIBLE musician! I never knew, but after that, I never forgot. 🎸
I've loved Charo ever since I first saw her. She burst on the American scene in the 1960s with husband Xavier Cugat. Love her look and non-stop personality, along with her stupendous ability. Charo is a marvelous role model for girls today. Fil, I like how you describe flamenco playing as "waves of emotion" because that's exactly what it is. I agree that she doesn't get the recognition as a superb musician, because she is a very popular actress and comedienne in the US. Awesome analysis Fil.
Sadly I’m not entirely sure how many are aware how phenomenal a guitarist she is. She will always be know for parts of sitcoms she’s been in and her signature “goochie goochie goo”. She is and incredible flamenco guitarist and I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head that play true flamenco better than she
I love this vid, Fil. Catchphrase aside, i love that she's wearing essentiaslly a tux. Gives the chance to focus on her playing. I'm not gonna lie, she was Hot!
She is more known for being a celebrity to most people under 40 , she was on a bunch of sitcoms in big parts and always on Hollywood squares game show but I’ve always loved her playing and she was gorgeous
Wow, I never knew Charo could play. She is Beautiful and plus a brilliant Guitarist. Love how she can play just with her fingers with no pick in hand. I'm always fascinate to hear females playing guitars as good as guys can. She has a gift, a talent for picking. Thank you Fil for picking her to react, again I was amazed. God Bless.
I remember being blown away by her guitar performances after having only seen her cuchicuchi act. Please check out Randy Murray on lead guitar opposite Randy Bachman on bass on Blue Collar with BTO at the Redwood Run in Piercy, CA in June 2004. Also please see Ana Vidovic on Asturias and Jose Feliciano playing Malagueña.
I remember Charo for guest appearances on the show "Chico and the Man," starring the late Freddie Prinze. Then she became an institution in her frequent roles on "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" (w/ Ricardo Montalban). I was only vaguely aware that she was a renowned flamenco guitarist. She was discovered in Spain by Xavier Cugat who brought her to the US. They married when she was quite young, and I'm pretty that was a green card marriage.
She was on Ed Sullivan... In fact she was on a lot of shows Johnny Carson as well and played guitar, and her and her guitar was a staple in all of the casinos, I guess you guys don't get out much.
Charo began studying under Andres Segovia in the late 1950s... And by the 1960s she was the centerpiece of her husband Xavier Cugat's Orchestra... she was a prodigy, obviously.
@@rohadtanyad8908 Andres died in 1987 so if anyone younger than 40 is Lying... But even then Charo met Andres in their native country of Spain in like 1951 when she was like 8 or 9 years old... So by 1987 I don't know how much he was teaching... How old are these students you claim of...
jimmy, i do want to point out some of his students. christopher parkening, julian bream, john williams, just to name a few. all of them much better, and more widely recognized players than charo. i have taken master classes with all 3, and pepe romero, william kanengiser and eliot fisk to name a few more. you showed extreme ignorance in thinking charo was the last living student. obviously you don't follow classical guitar. i have a degree in it. segovia taught into the 80's. all classical guitar players teach, as it is one of the major revenue streams for them. also, segovia considered teaching vital to his mission. why would you pipe up about something you know nothing about?
This is my favorite vid I have seen of yours so far! Just that Charo is on your radar is awesome and even less know how great of s player she is. Cheers
She did study under Segovia then went on to perform with Xavier Cougat the Cuban band leader. Then she became a multifaceted entertainer but as she matured she relied on her guitar skills. I also happen to own a couple of her albums.
@@wingsofpegasus Xavier wasn't Cuban , but like Charo both are Spaniards; but millions of Spaniards (including my own folks) migrated to Cuba and because of its proximity , and the communist debacle in the island , they then came over to the USA. For what it matters, the oldest continuous European /Caucasian settlement in the USA is today's City of St. Augustine in Florida, by soldiers from Spain, who also came up from Cuba, were they were stationed; way before the Brits(my other folks too. So you see I have no dog in this fight; just telling it like it is. And Ole!). Love your videos though. Keep them coming on UA-cam.
Let me pile on and add that it was sad many never got to really hear her guitar playing, in America she did become very famous and ultimately a comedian and character actor. I heard her play just a handful of times as I grew up watching her in movies and mostly television, the first time I heard her play Flamenco I was blown away because I did not even know she knew how to play the guitar! She was amazing in many ways and it was kind of a bummer that her unbelievable Talent as a guitar player was overshadowed by her Hollywood celebrity.
@@cosmyccowboy the only reason that I learned as a younger person that she did play guitar was because I grew up in a household of loud music and lots of partying, I'm 60 years old so I grew up with a lot of these bands people are listening to now I knew about so long ago! We loved all genres of music but of course it was more rock and roll than any other genre but I listen to some of her earlier stuff as a younger man, she was amazing but ended up going for the money and celebrity of Hollywood.
@@cosmyccowboy you will be quite surprised if you Google her name what you will find, I believe she started playing guitar when she was 6. And of course Flamenco was pretty much already in her blood!
I'm deeply ensconced in alternate picking and recently started playing bass but can't quite contort into fingerstyle acoustic. I'm -trying- to get started with THAT on the bass actually.
Charo is so unbelievably underrated when it comes to her importance to flamenco. She was responsible for exposing flamenco to the popular culture of the 70s. Flamenco would have remained unknown outside of Spain had it not been for her.
Everyone is referring to her in the past tense. She is still alive and performing. A total badass!
Unfortunately she never got the recognition she deserved for being a beautiful guitarist but she was always brilliant as a musician wish she had gotten more known for that part
That's a shame.
Well, she's not dead yet. And, ironically, through youtube, she is now getting the recognition. I've read she studied under Andres Segovia. She performed in 2017 with Pink Martini to critical acclaim at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. She lives in Beverly Hills too.
She’s recognized all around the world as the best flamenco player. She’s only most famous in the USA as the Cuchi Cuchi girl.
She was named Best Flamenco Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine's readers' poll twice. - Wikipedia page on Charo.
What's worse is that she was characterized as the "dumb blond" something I remember well as a youngster watching her on various TV shows. I had no idea she is so brilliantly talented - wow! What a loss that her talent was not made apparently many years ago.
Thanks for making me aware of Charo's musical proficiency. I remember her as a sort of TV personality way back in the day but never appreciated her as a musician.
No problem!
Totally. She was a fixture on Merv Griffin..a sort of goofy sidekick. I never realized she was an amazing guitarist.
She used T&A as a gimick to get noticed.
Unfortunately, the gimick was so big that it overshadowed the amazing talent she had/has.
Coochie coochie coochie
Yeah.. she trained under Andres Segovia
I saw her in 1995 in a dinner theatre in San Francisco and she was amazing! Her presence, sense of humour made the entire show a feast of talent.
She was a child prodigy that studied under Segovia and is known as second only to him. Xavier Cugat brought her to the U.S. from Spain when she was young. Every time I hear her play classical guitar I tear up as she plays beautifully. The techniques she uses are so demanding and she does a great job.
@henryrapoport8608
That's Xavier Cugat NOT Xavier Cougar .
🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
It was always a treat whenever Charo was a guest on variety or talk shows back in the day. She was fantastic performing or interviewing. She usually upstaged everybody, in a good way. I would say that her celebrity, her personality combined with looks and sexuality, did overshadow her guitar playing for the general public, but anybody who saw her live was blown away.
👍
I always thought she was hilarious. Now I know she's brilliant.
@@hudsony777 She played dumb brilliantly. That is, it was always a comedy routine about her understanding and pronunciation of English.
She’s an amazing talent !! Thanks Fil I learned so much about this beautiful lady
Charo actually studied with Segovia, so her playing this well isn’t too much of a surprise. Brava!
No matter who you study with, very very few would ever be able to play like this. She has an extremely rare talent.
You should be pleased to know she won "Best Flamenco Guitarist" in Guitar Player magazine - twice.
I was on a cruise ship three years ago and Charo performed one night. Absolutely outstanding. She is incredibly talented.
Cool!
Wow! Charo on a cruise ship? Did it look like this? - ua-cam.com/video/CRGioQclhYI/v-deo.html
@@victorsixtythree Well that was goofy AF. Hah !
Was it the Love Boat?
She's precious. A great sense of humor, smart, beautiful and can really play guitar.
Dude, I had no idea she played guitar, much less that she played that good! Wow!
Cool!
A young boy my dad would watch her on TV and I always thought of her as a comical bimbo. The first video of her playing guitar I was blown away and thought beautiful woman and talented musician. So much respect. Not only does she sound great she's beautiful too.😊
Charo said something to the effect of.... ."In the rest of the world, I'm known as a serious Musician. In the USA, I'm the cuchi cuchi girl. That's OK. I cuchi cuchi all the way to the bank"
😂👍
Roy Clark had a similar sentiment about being overlooked regarding his mastery of stringed instruments.
@@marksprague1280 And they're both well known for this piece.
She had it all. She is still playing to audiences. I just watched her in a 2024 video. She performed Bolero.
@@marksprague1280 I'd rather watch Charo "cuchi chuchi all the way to the bank."
Dude, you'd LOVE the campiness of The Love Boat and the rosters of guest stars they'd have every week.
Fil, you continue to surprise me with your picks.
Charo is in her 70's and still performing. She was the real deal as a guitar picker.
Yeah!
She is 67 or 68
@@theexmann She was born in 1941 but has lied about her age for years. She claims 1951 but she's older than that. It doesn't take away from the fact that she was an amazing musician.
I was just going to recommend her to Fil and here he has already done it almost 3 years ago !
Charo is outstanding! I remember as a kid watching her on the Johnny Carson show; unfortunately in those days, she could only get recognition for playing a sex object. But, thankfully times have changed and great on you Fil for recognizing all the various artists!
No problem!
She herself said that around the world she's known as a musician but in America she's the "coochie coochie" girl.
But Johnny always had her play when she came on the show, and everyone respected her when they heard her. I remember the first time I heard "Leyenda" (Asturias) is was Charo on Carson.
Yes. That moment you first see Charo play is unforgettable.
👍
Have you seen her dance?
(Not "coochie-coochie")
She started out with band leader Xavier Cugat. She is remembered mostly as a beautiful celebrity, and many people were unaware of her masterful guitar playing. Wow, she could play! I was always envious of her playing, her hair, and her beauty. I played pretty well, back then, but I look like a stump.
Awww. Thank You, Andy! >smooch
Don't be so hard on yourself....I'm sure your beautiful....................
It's a shame she wasn't known as much for her playing back then!
@@wingsofpegasus I was very surprised That you did a Charo episode ,you are quite thorough Fil, I am Impressed and I do not Impress easily,take care pal.
I haven't Xavier Cugot's name since I was a child. Taking me back.
I remember seeing her on tv when I was a kid, didn't know she was a guitarist, and a great one as well 😎👍
👍
I had such a big crush on her way back when ,dang ,she still looks good.
She's the "Cuchi Cuchi girl", and I'm sure most folks in America have no idea of the depth of her guitar talent! Thanks for posting!
I only recently discovered that Charo was an absolute master, a virtuoso of Flamenco Guitar. I only knew her as a comedian, but oh, has my mind been changed! So much humble respect!!!
Sadly she was more well known in the States as a famous Cuban bandleader's wife. She was married to Xavier Cougat. She was only about 17 when she began appearing with him. She became more of a novelty/comedy act here. She's also a fabulous Flamenco dancer as well as a guitarist. Over here it was only musicians that recognized her true talent; the general audience never took her seriously.
Amazing. Very talented. That takes enormous practice.
She still performs today !
Go see her.
Thank you so much for your analysis of Charo. She was a very gifted classical guitarist, singer and songwriter.
I’ve known of her prowess since the early 70’s a beautiful talented woman.
Cool!
Wow wow wow! My god I used to watch her on comedy sitcoms! Unique, exacting and melodic! That was truly dazzling! How sad I didn’t know she was that good , that will definitely change! Thanks Fil awesome vid!!’
👍
That she studied with Segovia is an Interesting fact but keep in mind that Segovia was a classical player whose approach was not only completely different than what we saw here but that he also despised flamenco for its "nauseating rasguedo." An amazing fact as he made the Malaguena, which is not so much a composition as it is a framework of one of the twelve flamenco forms, a huge pop culture success. Her technique here is very traditional...watch her use of thumb for the melody. Not at all classical technique.
Fil...sometimes you say what is on my mind.
I grew up with Charo as a pop culture figure. Sadly she was known as the "Hoochie Girl" and was mostly an actress known for her flamboyant personality and for being very sexy.
She only unleashed her guitar skills to the greater public after that persona was well established and indeed her playing prowess was viewed by mainstream consumers of pop pablum as being a novelty. Blatant sexism of a bygone era.
Those of us with blisters and broken nails on our fingers knew better.
Thank you so very much for bringing her into the proper light.
She deserved much more than she got.
No problem, she deserves the credit for those years and years of practise!
Sean Woodburn I watched her as a kid. I was learning guitar and remember watching her play flamenco and just being mesmerized by her skill. Then when I hit puberty I noticed how hot she was. But that never overrode my respect for her talent.
@@josephperreault7047 With all due respect there are very few guitarists of any ethnicity who play both styles at a very high level. The techniques are completely different and the rhythms of the original 12 torques are nearly impossible to notate.
The best players say you learn the rhythmic forms from.sitting on
grandmothers knee.
Flamenco was considered "gypsy music" ...while that is certainly true, the connotation unfortunately is vulgar.
Segovia did not relate at all to these people and was quite vocal about detesting flamenco.
It is interesting to note that many baroque and classical composers felt the same way about "peasant music" and yet they borrowed and sterilized many of the dance forms.
"Gigue" and "Sarabande" are obvious examples.
Segovia could no more play flamenco authentically than he could play trombone.
His rendition of the Malaguena is technically flawless in a classical context but it is sterile.
It could not be danced nor sung to.
Guitar is actually third chair in flamenco...dance is most important, singing next and then guitar.
Rhythm is everything and lacking a guitar dancers will dance and singers will sing to the rhythms of palmas,(clapping), and golpe.
Anyway...long winded response given in the spirit of sharing.
Cheers!
@@seanwoodburn2616 it was the new wave of flamenco that segovia detested not old traditional flamenco. Of course both old and new equally share influences and origins from Arabic, Jewish, gypsy music, that's the heart of sevilla! Segovia was being hard headed in this case.. . That's why Paco de lucia is remembered more than segovia 😉
@@seanwoodburn2616
I wouldn't consider her a 'real' flamenco guitarist.
For one her posture and right hand technique are far too rigid to employ all the various techniques that are required.
Sure, she's learnt a couple of things from it but ultimately this is 'fake' flamenco, simply a gimmick that your average Joe, ie the general public, would be impressed by.
Such a talented musician! I follow her on Instagram and she is so lovely ❤️ She is so positive and gracious with her fans. Gracias and besos, Fil! 🤘
Her husband wrote the Malagueña for her... her playing is very respected all over the world... she was also very funny and full of life. A beautiful talent altogether. This world needs more energy like hers.
As I get older and older I'm really coming to appreciate what individual spirits we all have and how we so affect one another with them. She's quite luminous! Same with Dolly Parton. Both great and talented entertainers with good spirits and a gift for making you feel so, SO good.
Malaguena was composed by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. Charo's bandleader husband was Xavier Cugat.
@@vdavis4785 Yeah, I saw that and thought that's impossible. Malaguena was part of the Andalucia Suite composed in 1928/ Charo's parents probably weren't even born yet.
@@josephplumb4130 I'm not so sure about Charo's parents. Charo's true age seems to be a secret more closely guarded than the combination to the vault at Fort Knox. 😄
Fil, thank you for your willingness to review guitarists from all genres and styles. Charo deserves your respect. You're posts are truly illuminating. Thanks, from the USA.
No problem!
Charo is sick... nice work WoP I also realized that by making these vids you expose a lot of people to talented guitarists they never heard of or werent expecting!
No problem!
She is SOOO underrated! Makes it look so easy, when it is not. Luv her!
Thanks, Fil! Cool!! you did a video on her, she's amazing I remember the little TV crush I had on her back then lol. But she is an amazing guitarist still out there playing and looking great. There is footage of her jamming with Roy Clark out there I remember seeing the show as a kid. Great channel bro!
No problem!
In America, she was a frequent guest on the tv series Love Boat, with her cuchi cuchi persona.
Johnny Carson loved having her on a guest on the Tonight Show .during the 70s . I had forgotten about her until iI seen this video .Thanks for sharing .
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She looks so happy playing.. really beautiful performance
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Wow. Amazing video! Great Job Fil!
Thanks!
FIL YOU SURPRISE ME WITH THIS ONE. GREAT Job AS ALWAYS .ROCK ON
Discovered her music years ago! Still cannot believe how beautiful she plays!
Saw her live and she was amazing!!!!
Cool!
Thank you for this! I started classical guitar lessons because of Charo & Mason Williams' "Classical Gas". Love the respect & joy you show for all musical genres.
Cool!
Just saw her perform in South Florida in Feb 2023. She is ageless - yes, her DOB remains a mystery - and she put on a great show!
I can remember her on the Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Show when I was a kid. She impressed me greatly.
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Wow I honestly had no idea she even played guitar. All I remember is her on either Carson or something like the Love Boat. She played the hot bimbo very well. Phil man this is great you showed this to those of us who never knew. Great!!!!
No problem!
She also was on Hee Haw doing Foggy Mountain Breakdown with Roy Clark,George Gobel and The Osmonds. always liked Charo
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I would love to see that episode!
@@texaz58 ua-cam.com/video/hK2bu3nEC8Q/v-deo.html
Sorry it wasn't Hee Haw
I didn't find that one, but here's a version from the Donny & Marie Show with Charo: ua-cam.com/video/WsP7wOqMOro/v-deo.html
@@dannybaker4641 God Bless You!!!
Unfortunately, Charo seemed to get more publicity for her persona as an actress and "Coochie Coochie" girl than for her playing. It was several years before I even knew she was a musician. What an amazing talent, indeed! Thanks, Fil! 👍
No problem!
Wow that brings back memories i remeber seeing her on The Johnny Carson show when i was a kid another good one Fil
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Big respect for her!
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from Wikipedia: Charo began playing guitar at the age of 9 and trained under the famed Andrés Segovia. In 1966 when she was 15 years old, she married 65 year old bandleader Xavier Cugat and they moved to the United States. In the late 1960s and 1970s, she became a ubiquitous presence on American television, frequently appearing as a guest star on series such as Laugh-In, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She is known for her uninhibited and exuberant manner, vague age, heavy Spanish accent, and the catch-phrase "cuchi-cuchi." (and not known for her fabulous guitar skills)
Excellent choice, sir. I remember when this aired.
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Hermosa...super talented.
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She was FANTASTIC!!
Charo was also in a skit on The Carol Burnett Show where Carol played Charo's mother & Tim Conway was a talent scout, I think. Anyway, it was hilarious.
Wow, I going to have to check that out! Three outstanding talents! Thanks! 👍😊
Cool!
Having lived in Spain, I adore Flamenco. I was watching this very video of Charo’s earlier and I thought I should send it your way for analysis…. And then your video analysis cropped up. Joy! Excellent as always.
Working in Vegas in a news station I met her as the station was doing a interview with her. Super nice lady. She is always on 10. She is exactly as she seems. I was bummed it was not a musical segment and just a interview. But the few of us who knew how talented she is where geeking out.
The best acoustic guitar performance I've ever witnessed in this style! It was live when I viewed this on Television. Yep. I'm old.
I have been a charro fan most all of my life and I never had any idea she could play guitar like this. As a guitar player myself I was very surprised. All I ever knew of this girl was Gucci Gucci. She definitely didn't get the recognition she deserved as a musician
Gucci..gucci?
Yes, she was a celebrity. Love her, she was always funny. I knew she played guitar but it has many, many years since I heard her play. What a treat! Thanks, Fil!
No problem!
She was one of my dad's favorite personalities. Here in the US she did do concerts and like Roy Clark and Jim Staffard, she was a crack up and a all around entertainer. Quite the whole package. Choochi choochi 😁
What a talented guitar player.
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She is amazing and fortunately still playing!! if she ever tours over there check it out. She got her start doing comedy and throwing some guitar in. Guitar was her true passion. But through the 60s she did a lot of variety shows and really tried to take time to showcase music. I saw her live a few years ago and the first part of her show was singing and comedy, the second part was 50 minutes of solid amazing flamenco! If you want to check out her at her funniest look up Charo on Carol Burnett show
Hey Fil!
Great video as always.
Charo and Liona Boyd are my two favorite female guitarists.
As much as I like playing metal and good ol' rock and roll, to be able to incorporate different styles of music is key to my daily playing.
Many thanks for your videos.
Growing up in the 70's, I remember seeing her on TV and she was this kooky person that played up her hispanic accent. At some point I saw her perform on the guitar and it was one of those jaw dropping moments. My wife and I saw her live back in the 90's at what we call the Big E, (The Eastern States Exhibition) and I wondered what kind of a show she would put on. She was great, charming, funny, and that guitar, omg. She is a terrific entertainer and unfortunately, at least in the States, she did suffer from exactly what Fil said in terms of the celebrity diverting from the appreciation of the talent. Thankfully there are channels like this where that talent can be highlighted again.
I don't know what the hell all these people in the comments are saying, because I grew up in the 70's and Charo was known first and foremost as a phenomenally talented guitarist. She always had a musical performance on the Love Boat, or Fantasy Island, or whatever other show she was on.
In the "variety" era, entertainers thrived if they could be dynamic and multidimensional. Acting + Talent + Comedy = Superstar. The whole "Cuche Cuche" jokes and routine (developed by HER) was a brilliant way to be humorously sexually provocative on family friendly tv so that the adults got the jokes, and it went over the heads of the kids, who thought she was just cartoonish and funny. I was one of those kids, she made me laugh and got me interested in guitar.
Another of my favorites. Charo was known mostly as a goofy, hot chick during her highest level of celbrity in the US,
but there was a good level of awareness that she owned the flamenco guitar.
My guitar teacher insisted that I study her work if I wanted to learn to play.
You just keep knocking them over the fences, Fil.
Haha thanks!
What an eye opener. Never knew she was sooooo capable.
I became aware of Charo in the 60s on late night shows like Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin etc. She was the wife of Xavier Cugat who was an orchestra leader. She appeared with or without her husband but always sang and danced with a flourish and dressed in sexy clothes and always acted comically. Then, one day she pulled out her guitar and blew everyone away. She was taken seriously since then. She started playing guitar at 9 and at 14 she studied classical guitar with Andres Segovia.Thanks for your great videos.
Nice! No problem!
I just found out about Charo being such a great musician a couple of years ago, thanks to youtube recs. I was too little when she was big here in the US as the "Cuchi Cuchi" comedienne to know her...only vague recollections of a Love Boat episode & various appearances on variety shows in passing, because I didn't watch them. I was so mad at being cheated out of all of these years of amazing music!
"¡Cuchi cuchi!"
I actually noticed her first as an actress - she was pretty funny. Then years later I saw her play the guitar, and I was floored. What an INCREDIBLE musician! I never knew, but after that, I never forgot. 🎸
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I'm really glad to see this. She sometimes anchors her thumb hard on the low E string when she's not using it for low notes.
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I've loved Charo ever since I first saw her. She burst on the American scene in the 1960s with husband Xavier Cugat. Love her look and non-stop personality, along with her stupendous ability. Charo is a marvelous role model for girls today. Fil, I like how you describe flamenco playing as "waves of emotion" because that's exactly what it is. I agree that she doesn't get the recognition as a superb musician, because she is a very popular actress and comedienne in the US. Awesome analysis Fil.
I love the way you look when watching the video. I can see how much you get into it.
Sadly I’m not entirely sure how many are aware how phenomenal a guitarist she is. She will always be know for parts of sitcoms she’s been in and her signature “goochie goochie goo”. She is and incredible flamenco guitarist and I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head that play true flamenco better than she
Fil, hopefully you can go on tour one day. Lots of people would want to see you.
Thanks!
I love this vid, Fil. Catchphrase aside, i love that she's wearing essentiaslly a tux. Gives the chance to focus on her playing. I'm not gonna lie, she was Hot!
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Excellent
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I'm in my mid 30s and as a child I only knew Charo as some bubbly tv personality....was only a few years ago I realised how brilliant she is on guitar
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You did it again another performance that I forgot about. Thank you
An amazing version of malagueña, it’s all in the right hand.... such discipline and great technique🤟🏻
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She is more known for being a celebrity to most people under 40 , she was on a bunch of sitcoms in big parts and always on Hollywood squares game show but I’ve always loved her playing and she was gorgeous
Cool!
Wow, I never knew Charo could play. She is Beautiful and plus a brilliant Guitarist. Love how she can play just with her fingers with no pick in hand. I'm always fascinate to hear females playing guitars as good as guys can. She has a gift, a talent for picking. Thank you Fil for picking her to react, again I was amazed. God Bless.
No problem!
Thank you for highlighting Charo. She played locally...in my area in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Amazing talent.
I remember being blown away by her guitar performances after having only seen her cuchicuchi act. Please check out Randy Murray on lead guitar opposite Randy Bachman on bass on Blue Collar with BTO at the Redwood Run in Piercy, CA in June 2004. Also please see Ana Vidovic on Asturias and Jose Feliciano playing Malagueña.
Thanks!
Awesome skills. Never knew Charo was such a skilled guitarist.
Too many people think of the cuchi cuchi bit when they see her. I don’t think enough people know how talented she is
So many people have no idea she's a GUITAR MASTER.
Because of her comedy we forget how talented a guitarist she was.
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Just saw her live tonite....great playing
Great video! You do need to watch some Love Boat though! :D And no, I don't think Charo is very well known as a musician here in the US.
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I remember Charo for guest appearances on the show "Chico and the Man," starring the late Freddie Prinze. Then she became an institution in her frequent roles on "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" (w/ Ricardo Montalban). I was only vaguely aware that she was a renowned flamenco guitarist. She was discovered in Spain by Xavier Cugat who brought her to the US. They married when she was quite young, and I'm pretty that was a green card marriage.
I didn't know how famous Charo is,I knew her from watching " The Love Boat", she is so incredibly talented!
She was on Ed Sullivan... In fact she was on a lot of shows Johnny Carson as well and played guitar, and her and her guitar was a staple in all of the casinos, I guess you guys don't get out much.
Charo began studying under Andres Segovia in the late 1950s... And by the 1960s she was the centerpiece of her husband Xavier Cugat's Orchestra... she was a prodigy, obviously.
She was really big in the 70’s.Didn’t even know she played guitar.Every time I saw her she was singing I think.
I wish I could travel back through Time for Charo, she was and still is spectacular. She is the last living student of Guitar Legend Andres Segovia
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that is complete nonsense. i know several living students of andres segovia.
@@rohadtanyad8908 Andres died in 1987 so if anyone younger than 40 is Lying... But even then Charo met Andres in their native country of Spain in like 1951 when she was like 8 or 9 years old... So by 1987 I don't know how much he was teaching... How old are these students you claim of...
they were my teachers, they are in their 60's and 70's. i am 50. and they teach at major universities.
jimmy, i do want to point out some of his students. christopher parkening, julian bream, john williams, just to name a few. all of them much better, and more widely recognized players than charo. i have taken master classes with all 3, and pepe romero, william kanengiser and eliot fisk to name a few more. you showed extreme ignorance in thinking charo was the last living student. obviously you don't follow classical guitar. i have a degree in it.
segovia taught into the 80's. all classical guitar players teach, as it is one of the major revenue streams for them. also, segovia considered teaching vital to his mission. why would you pipe up about something you know nothing about?
This is my favorite vid I have seen of yours so far! Just that Charo is on your radar is awesome and even less know how great of s player she is. Cheers
No problem!
She did study under Segovia then went on to perform with Xavier Cougat the Cuban band leader. Then she became a multifaceted entertainer but as she matured she relied on her guitar skills. I also happen to own a couple of her albums.
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@@wingsofpegasus Xavier wasn't Cuban , but like Charo both are Spaniards; but millions of Spaniards (including my own folks) migrated to Cuba and because of its proximity , and the communist debacle in the island , they then came over to the USA.
For what it matters, the oldest continuous European /Caucasian settlement in the USA is today's City of St. Augustine in Florida, by soldiers from Spain, who also came up from Cuba, were they were stationed; way before the Brits(my other folks too. So you see I have no dog in this fight; just telling it like it is. And Ole!). Love your videos though. Keep them coming on UA-cam.
She is so great ! ! !
Let me pile on and add that it was sad many never got to really hear her guitar playing, in America she did become very famous and ultimately a comedian and character actor. I heard her play just a handful of times as I grew up watching her in movies and mostly television, the first time I heard her play Flamenco I was blown away because I did not even know she knew how to play the guitar! She was amazing in many ways and it was kind of a bummer that her unbelievable Talent as a guitar player was overshadowed by her Hollywood celebrity.
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that was my thought i didnt even know she could play the guitar and to think she studies with segovia too!
@@cosmyccowboy the only reason that I learned as a younger person that she did play guitar was because I grew up in a household of loud music and lots of partying, I'm 60 years old so I grew up with a lot of these bands people are listening to now I knew about so long ago! We loved all genres of music but of course it was more rock and roll than any other genre but I listen to some of her earlier stuff as a younger man, she was amazing but ended up going for the money and celebrity of Hollywood.
@@gregmardon6973 I am 61 so we grew up in the same era! Didn't she used to make appearances on laugh in or some such show?
@@cosmyccowboy you will be quite surprised if you Google her name what you will find, I believe she started playing guitar when she was 6. And of course Flamenco was pretty much already in her blood!
I'm deeply ensconced in alternate picking and recently started playing bass but can't quite contort into fingerstyle acoustic. I'm -trying- to get started with THAT on the bass actually.
Charo is so unbelievably underrated when it comes to her importance to flamenco. She was responsible for exposing flamenco to the popular culture of the 70s. Flamenco would have remained unknown outside of Spain had it not been for her.
Charo played on several TV series here in the US and in all the episodes I watched, Charo played her guitar.
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