Charo … Cuchi-Cuchi – She’s NOT!
Before there was Cher…or Madonna…or J Lo… there was Charo.
That name, instantly recognized, conjures up an image that’s a fiery mix of music, comedy, acting, sex, and Latina goddess with a pinch of spice, and, oh yes—cuchi-cuchi. Although that famous appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson seared together cuchi-cuchi with Charo forever, make no mistake, this lady knows what you think of her—and she’s out to get you anyway.
“The next day my name was cuchi-cuchi. And although it took me a long time, once I started making enough money to pay the bills, I wanted to show that there was more than cuchi-cuchi, that there was a musician.”
Although her formal training was with master classical guitarist, Andres Segovia, she first picked up the guitar from gypsies, traveling migrant workers who worked on her grandfather’s farm. Her lessons paid off. Charo hit platinum-selling status with her flamencostyle album “Guitar Passion.” She has also been recognized by the Billboard International Latin Music Conference, which named her “Female Pop Album of the Year” in 1995.
Today when taking the stage, Charo doesn’t just put on a show, she assembles a production. The veteran performer seemed distinctly pleased that many walk in with low expectations.
“I know that when you’re walking in you’re never expecting a big deal, but when they walk out they’re impressed. They’re thinking, how will she look, how old is she, I wonder what kind of costume she’ll wear and oh, she’s funny, cuchi-cuchi, I know that.”Charo plays into that for perhaps the first 20 minutes. “After that I introduce a person that they didn’t know. I know you are having a good time, you’re not getting what you’re expecting. My name is not cuchi-cuchi…it’s Charo.”
You Say You Want A Resolution?
I made a New Year’s resolution that I actually kept. At 16, I resolved NEVER to make another New Year’s resolution. Yeah, it’s a cop-out, but it was an honest look at resolutions and a way not
to fail, and hey, I kept it all these years — no problem.
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