Charo is an American music and Pop Culture Icon
who has entertained millions during her stellar career. She recently wowed over 17,000 in attendance at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with her new show, featuring her infectious humor, virtuoso guitar skills, her orchestra and dancers. She also received standing ovations at McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert and entertained thousands at Seattle Pride. Charo is dubbed The Queen of Instagram for her fun, entertaining and informative content. Charo was recently featured in The New York Times’ “The Brilliance of Charo.”
Charo is instantly recognizable by her trademark expression, “Cuchi Cuchi”, which has endeared her to audiences around the world and made her name synonymous with music, fun and excitement. She is a virtuoso guitarist, singer, composer, actress and comedienne who has been voted “Best Flamenco Guitarist” twice by Guitar Magazine. her numerous recordings are in high demand on iTunes, Spotify, CD Baby, Pandora, and other digital music retailers. Most recently, Charo teamed up with top-name world-famous DJs to release Fantastico! The International Remixes, a series of dance tracks heard in gay clubs around the world.
Charo’s fans are from all ages and all walks of life and follow her adventures on her entertaining social media channels: Instagram: @OfficialCharo, Facebook: @Charo, Twitter @CharoCuchiCuchi and TikTok @TheRealCharo. She recently appeared on ABC’s “The View,” MTV Cribs, and TMZ. Besides her Music, Charo also brings her homespun advice to her fans imparting lifestyle advice on Fashion, Nutrition, Cooking, Exercise, how to maintain a Positive and Healthy Mental Outlook.
She is an icon in the LGBTQ community and has always advocated for gay rights throughout her career. She appears regularly at Pride events as well as guest-starred multiple times on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Charo is also a humanitarian and an activist for animal rights. Like Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney and Pink, Charo is a member of PETA who speaks out against animal cruelty. Charo was on Billboard charts with her single dance club hit – España Cañi!, the traditional bull fighting song, which she recorded in protest against bull fighting. Charo’s efforts eventually led to a ban on bull fighting in the Catalonia region of Spain. The experience led her to raise a bull in her Beverly Hills home! Watch Charo and her bull Manolo. Charo also supports Project Angel Food, a non-profit which delivers meals daily to home-bound patients in Southern California.
Charo has also appeared on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and dazzled America with her rendition of Malagueña during the season finale. She has also starred in several episodes of the CW’s “Jane The Virgin” and appeared as the Queen of England in Syfy’s Sharknado 5. Charo and her family also appeared on an episode of ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap, bringing to millions the antics and hilarious situations in her crazy Beverly Hills household. Her young fans know for voicing the character of Mama Toad in the animated film “Thumbelina.”
Charo is the recipient of the 2014 Ricardo Montalban Lifetime Achievement ALMA Award, bestowed by The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. The NCLR ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards celebrates America’s favorite Latinos in the entertainment industry, television programs, films, and music. (Note: The NCLR is now known as UNIDOS.)
Charo is Master Performer. Charo, the musician, has been an integral proponent of contemporary Latin music. She was named Female Pop Album of the Year Award at the Billboard International Latin Music Conference for her flamenco inspired platinum album, “Guitar Passion.”
Charo has appeared in countless hit television shows, including more than forty-five appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She also appeared on the long-running series “The Love Boat” more than any other guest star. Charo also guest-starred on “Sonny and Cher,” “The Carol Burnett Show,” and numerous appearances with Bob Hope and Sammy Davis, Jr. She has also been a regular on “Hollywood Squares” and VH1’s “The Surreal Life.” Charo also appeared in such films as SHARKNADO 5, MOON OVER PARADOR with Richard Dreyfuss and AIRPORT 79: THE CONCORD.
Charo’s signature album “Charo and Guitar” is a mixture of her patented rhythms and mastery of classical guitar. It is a combination of the most exciting and original music of today and the most famous classical masterpieces in the world. Charo performs brilliantly and passionately on these powerful tracks, blending heart and soul with her unique Flamenco style.
Charo is short for Rosario, her given name of Maria Rosario Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza. Born in the town of Murcia, Spain, Charo learned to play the guitar at an early age and studied under the world-famous master of Flamenco guitar, Andrés Segovia. Becoming a recording artist in her early teens, Charo appeared in the Spanish film classic DON JUAN TENORIO. Famed Latin bandleader Xavier Cugat happened to be watching TV in a Madrid hotel room as Charo appeared, playing guitar in the children’s show “Villa Alegre” (Happy Village). While still a teenager, Charo joined Cugat’s band and traveled to the U.S. where Charo became a sensation. Soon, she was appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, introducing her trademark “Cuchi Cuchi” to America.
Soon, Charo began performing as a solo artist at the Congo Room at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, sharing the stage with the likes of Johnny Carson, Joey Bishop, Danny Thomas, Buddy Hackett, Jim Nabors and George Burns. During this time, she recorded her hit disco albums, La Salsa and Flamenco Salsa on Capitol Records. The single “Cuchi Cuchi” went platinum and became a hit in nightclubs worldwide. Her follow-up album, Ole-Ole on Salsoul Records contained the single “Stay With Me” and became an international hit, achieving gold status.
With the introduction of her international hit “Dance a Little Bit Closer” Charo created and established a new bilingual salsa style: “The Charo Rhythm,” which has been emulated by other performers. In 2003, Charo received a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for creating the Latin Style.
In 1985, Charo and her husband, Swedish businessman, Kjell Rasten, visited Hawaii and fell in love with the islands. Soon after, Charo relocated her family to Hawaii in order that her 6-year old son could lead a normal life. “I wanted our son to grow up in a healthy and beautiful environment. I just closed my eyes to some good offers in show business. I love show business, but my family is my priority.”
While in Hawaii, Charo exclusively produced and starred in the variety show Tropical Heat at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Waikiki and for ten years, it was the most successful show in Hawaii. It was during this time that Charo began preparing her critically acclaimed album Guitar Passion, which Billboard Magazine called a “fine flamenco-rooted album that spotlights her fluid finger play.” Guitar Passion was named Female Pop Album of the Year at the Billboard International Latin Music Conference and reached platinum status worldwide.
Following the success of Guitar Passion, Charo released Gusto in 1997, a dance album, which includes the hits, “Give Me Cuchi” and her remake of “Besame Mucho. After her son graduated from high school, Charo returned to mainstream show production and headed for Las Vegas. In 2001, Charo headlined and produced “Bravo,” at The Venetian Hotel & Casino; it was one of the hottest shows on the Strip and was named “Best Variety Show in Las Vegas” by Time Magazine. Bravo ran for two years chalking up rave reviews and the near mythical achievement of TWO standing ovations per night.
Charo had returned to Vegas triumphantly with what many critics hailed as the best show of her career.
Charo is:
- Recipient of the 2014 Ricardo Montalbán Lifetime Achievement ALMA Award
- Twice voted “Best Classical Flamenco Guitarist in the World” – Guitar Player Magazine
- Vice President of Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Winner of a Billboard International Latin Music Award
- Winner of Screen Actors Guild Award
- Winner of the prestigious Golden Eagle Award for Outstanding Entertainment of the Year
- Received the Key to the City of Las Vegas by Oscar Goodman (03/14/04)
- Honored with the “Charo Week Proclamation” from the City of San Francisco (08/02/05)
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