She usually played the part of sexpot on tv in the 60's and 70's...
She usually played the part of sexpot on tv in the 60's and 70's...
she was known as a guitarist to musicians, before she was known as a 'sexpot' to the tv-watching world.
Steve F.
www.waysidemusic.com
www.cuneiformrecords.com
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“Remember, if it doesn't say "Cuneiform," it's not prog!” - THE Jed Levin
Any time any one speaks to me about any musical project, the one absolute given is "it will not make big money". [tip of the hat to HK]
"Death to false 'support the scene' prog!"
please add 'imo' wherever you like, to avoid offending those easily offended.
yeah, I was just reading a bit about her. I knew she played guitar but didn't know she was that good.
The first time I saw her on TV and they were going to let her play the guitar, I thought it was going to be part of the sexpot "act". After she played, I realized the sexpot thing was really the "act" and she was an amazing talent.
"The woods would be very silent if the only birds that sang were those who sang best..." - Henry David Thoreau
Sort of like many who think of Karen Carpenter as a bubble gum singer and not a great drummer.
OK, the hypothetical all-women prog/jazz fusion band:
Charo - guitar
Tal Wilkenfeld - bass
Karen Carpenter - drums
Annie Haslem - vocals
Gayle Moran - keyboards (not singing!)
Ruth Underwood - percussion
When she was married to Xavier Cugat, the bandleader with ties to both Spain & Cuba, her guitar playing was a part of their show (Vegas, etc.).
I, like Ernie, knew there was/is more than meets the eye about "Cuchi-Cuchi".
"My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"
President Harry S. Truman
Good band. Might also consider Esperanza Spalding, another great female jazz bassist. And Terri Lyne Carrington on drums, who might be more terrestrially available than the late, great Ms Carpenter.Originally Posted by cavgator
We're trying to build a monument to show that we were here
It won't be visible through the air
And there won't be any shade to cool the monument to prove that we were here. - Gene Parsons, 1973
Wow. I haven't heard this name in a long time. I never realized she was a musician. Cool.
I'll bet if you didn't know she was a musician and or guitarist and someone played these clips for you(minus her banter)Charo would be the last person in the world most people would think it was.
Last edited by Digital_Man; 05-28-2014 at 08:02 PM.
I saw Charo as opening act for comedian David Brenner at the Westbury Music Fair in the 70's. Despite her sexpot image, she was very talented.
Back in the 70's, she actually won the Flamenco category in Guitar Player magazine's annual reader's poll. I remember someone suggesting that the publishers were so embarrassed that might have been why the flamenco category was discontinued the following year. But yeah, I remember seeing her demonstrate her mad nylon guitar skills on TV ages ago.
Yep, it just goes to show that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Kind of reminds me of Sheila E that way(only with drums and percussion in her case).
Cindy Blackman Santana is also a pretty fantastic drummer, if the Spectrum Road album with Bruce/Reid/Medeski is any indication . . . . . . . . .
Hired on to work for Mr. Bill Cox, a-fixin' lawn mowers and what-not, since 1964.
"Arguing with an idiot is like playing chess with a pigeon. It'll just knock over all the pieces, shit on the board, and strut about like it's won anyway." Anonymous
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” George Carlin
Well, since we're talking about female musicians in general now, I have to say I always liked Lita Ford's guitar work. Good melodic solos and catchy riffs. What more could you want. I mean, besides Jennifer Batten's tapping dexterity.
And while she's not a virtuoso, I actually rather liked Brandy Wynne's bass work when I saw her play with Ozrics at ProgDay a few years ago. Yeah, I know everyone criticized her placement as the band's new synthesist a couple years before that, saying that she wasn't really playing anything, it was all sequenced and she was just dancing around, etc (for what it's worth, Ed has always done all the heavy lifting in Ozrics, in terms of keyboard work in the first place), but as a bassist she really proved herself to be a worthy addition, I think.
indeed. this is from IMDB: "Her trademark "cuchi, cuchi" comes from her nickname for her dog, Cuchillo (Spanish for "knife"): "When Cuchillo was happy he wiggled. I copied him and I used to say 'como Cuchi, como Cuchi'. Everybody thought that it was very cute when I wiggled and say cuchi-cuchi, and they give me cookies and candy. Now, every time I say cuchi-cuchi, people give me money."...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."
Much like Shakira, IMO.
I think she's gorgeous, but I'm not a fan of her music or her voice. However, according to her Wikipedia page, she's much, much more than a sexy pop star, and is reportedly a Mensa member.
Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally
Jack Benny could actually play the violin, too. Not exceptionally well, but definitely competently.
"Arf." -- Frank Zappa, "Beauty Knows No Pain" (live version)
Oh really?! (touches chin and looks toward the camera sarcastically) (Jack Benny mode off)
Victor Borge was reportedly also quite an exceptional pianist. He did at least one "straight" album, where he dispensed with the comedy theatrics and just played the music the way it was meant to be played.
I recall reading that Dudley Moore was quite a good pianist as well.
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