Tonino | |
|---|---|
 Tonino Baliardo performing in 2023 | |
| Born | Montpellier |
| Website | toninobaliardo |
Antoine "Tonino" Baliardo is a French guitarist of Spanish Gitano descent. He is the lead guitarist for Gipsy Kings, a New Flamenco group from France that has sold more than 18 million albums worldwide.
Born in Montpellier, Tonino Baliardo started his career with Los Reyes, travelling around France and playing at weddings. Later, the band adopted the name of "Gipsy Kings'', UK being one of the founding members and the lead guitarist. In 1987, his group became successful after the release of the album "Gipsy Kings". After more than 30 years in the show industry, the band members have each gone separate ways, some of them continuing with their own Gipsy Kings bands.
"Tonino is the most creative person in the band," said Chico Bouchikhi, a former member who co-wrote their biggest hit to date, "Bamboléo". "He has lots of ideas and a great imagination. He used to go to school with his guitar."[1]
Baliardo, like his bandmate Nicolas Reyes, does not read or write musical notation.[2]
In 2021, Tonino Baliardo, alongside sons Mikael Baliardo and Cosso Baliardo, started a new Gipsy Kings band, together with singers Same Rey, Loukas and Miguel Kimbeo. They have released a new album in 2022, Renaissance, followed by a tour in 2023 in the United States of America and Canada.
A concert tour in support of Renaissance, Renaissance Tour, was announced on December 7, 2022, consisting of twelve initial dates. Tickets went on sale on December 10, to overwhelming demand. On January 11, 2023, due to popular demand, additional dates were announced for the "Renaissance Tour", a series of additional concerts to take place in Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, and Atlanta.
He was born in Montpellier.[3] He is the nephew of guitarist Manitas de Plata.[4]
