Charo

This article is about the musician. For uses of the name, see Charo (name). For other uses, see Charo (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Charro.

Charo
Charo at the 2013 Alma Awards
Born
Maria Rosario Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza[note 1]

(See DOB Section)
Murcia, Region of Murcia, Spain
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • classical guitarist
  • comedian
Years active1963–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1966; div. 1978)​
Kjell Rasten
​
​
(m. 1978; died 2019)​
Children1
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza,[1][note 1] professionally known by her stage name Charo, is a Spanish-born actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco guitarist who rose to international prominence in the 1960s on American television, as well as starring in several films.

Charo began playing classical (Spanish-style) guitar at the age of nine, training under the famed guitarist Andrés Segovia.[6][7] In 1966, she married 66-year-old bandleader Xavier Cugat and moved to the United States with him. 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, high energy levels, vague age, heavy Spanish accent, and catchphrase "cuchi-cuchi". She frequently pokes fun at herself, while also pointing out the potential judgment of others, through her accent.

As a musician, Charo has performed and recorded in various styles for five decades. She released a series of disco recordings in the 1970s with Salsoul Records, most notably Dance a Little Bit Closer (1977). In 1995 her flamenco album Guitar Passion (1994) was awarded Female Pop Album of the Year at the Billboard International Latin Music Conference, and was named Best Female Latin Pop Album by Billboard Magazine.[2][8] In an interview, Charo has said, "Around the world I am known as a great musician. But in America I am known as the cuchi-cuchi girl. That's okay, because cuchi-cuchi has taken me all the way to the bank."[8]


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  1. ^ "Charo". The Official Charo Website. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Goldschmitt, Kariann (2013), "Charo", Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2248852, ISBN 9781561592630
  3. ^ "La mujer que conquistó EE.UU. sin que nadie en España se enterase". January 15, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Kerr, Jolie (June 22, 2019). "Thank Heaven for Charo". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Charo Biography: Dancer, Singer, Guitarist (1951–)". Biography.com. May 14, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Charo". Biography. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  7. ^ Pemberton, Patrick S. (March 29, 2012). "Charo: Beyond 'cuchi cuchi'". The Tribune. San Luis Obispo, California. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Ruíz, Vicki and Virginia Sánchez Korrol. Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia. Indiana University Press (2006), p. 144.