“I have been around the world, but I’ve never been to Orinda,” Latin music maestro Charo proclaims with her signature Spanish accent. “It’s such beautiful name. If I have a little girl, I will call her Orinda. I understand it is near San Francisco, and the greatest audience is there because the people are crazy like me!”
Within the first few moments talking to Charo, her infectious personality shines through even the jankiest of phone connections. It’s immediately apparent why the lady born María del Rosario Mercedes Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza in Murcia, Spain, lit up American television screens on shows including the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Fantasy Island and the Love Boat after she moved Stateside in the late ’60s.
GP readers eventually voted Charo as Best Classical Flamenco Guitarist in the World. Twice! Let that sink in for a moment and consider that she was trained by the most influential acoustic guitar player of all time, classical master Andres Segovia.
During her rise to fame the guitar took a back seat to her comedic persona and “cuchi-cuchi” catch phrase, even though she was already an ace on her instrument. So, she played the entertainment business game, and kept on practicing.
She says, “Little by little, I discovered how to merry the serious part with the fun part.”
Charo is still very much Charo. She can clearly entertain with her charming stories and killer comedic instinct. But over time her guitar playing has evolved from a side story to the heart of her act.
“I got a great review on the concert I did about two months ago at Pepperdine college, she reports. “And the message was incredible, it said that there were tears of happiness. People came from far away and they were so happy just to hear beautiful music. I understand because sometimes it happens to me.
“When the music goes so deep that it takes you to another level in your soul. To me, that’s worth it. As long I have the energy to put my feet on the stage, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Unlike many performers that still get stage fright most nights, even long into a successful career, Charo seems even more comfortable about being onstage than she is off it.
“Off the stage I am a cucaracha with a lot of issues,” Charo says with a laugh. “I don’t get nervous onstage because I love people and I have trained like an Olympian. When you train and train, practice and practice, you don’t get nervous because you are ready.”
“So I will talk for some time and then I’ll say, ‘Let me introduce you to a side of me that I have been hiding for a while.’ And then I’ll play the guitar the best I can.
“I go for a high energy level. And I’ll keep it up for 30 to 45 minutes going from salsa to rhumba to flamenco.”
She loves it all, but she doesn’t hesitate to name a favorite piece that we can expect to hear in Orinda at GP Presents, citing ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ by Juaquin Rodrigo and calling it “a gift from God to every musician.”
Having lived one of the more interesting lives one can imagine, Charo has developed a profound perspective.
“I feel lucky and honored to be performing for everybody in Orinda,” she says. “When you go to perform and see lots of people ready for good entertainment, it’s priceless.”
If you’re planning to be in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, June 20th, make plans to share the evening with Charo at the historic Orinda Theatre in Orinda, California, located in the East Bay a short ride inland from Berkeley.
And keep an eye out for a guest appearance by Charo in a new comedy starting RuPaul that’s coming to theaters this summer called Stop! That! Train!
Secure your tickets to GP Presents Charo at the Orinda Theatre on June 20.
WIN TICKETS!
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Charo in Orinda, California, on Saturday, June 20, please send an email and put put “Charo” in the subject line. Include a sentence about yourself and why you want to go. Phone contact is greatly appreciated for confirmation.
Winner must provide their own transportation to the Orinda Theatre in Orinda, California, and have their own accommodations in the area. Best of luck!
EVENT DETAILS
GP Presents Charo! in Concert
Saturday, June 20
7:00 p.m.
The Orinda Theatre
Orinda, CA
We'll be handing out free packs of Martin strings
