Peret Reyes & Gipsy Roots Band

Peret Reyes is nowadays the undisputed king of traditional Catalan rumba, a living legend of Rumba Catalana in capital letters. He is the brother of Ramon Reyes 'Ramonet' and godson of Peret 'El Rei de la Rumba' Pubill Calaf. At the age of 11, Peret Reyes began his professional career with Los Amaya along with his childhood friend Agustí Abellán Malla 'Chango', and at the end of the 60s became a part of the official lineup of the palmeros de Peret. Along with the great Peret, Peret Reyes crisscrossed the globe popularizing Catalan rumba during the 70s and 80s; from Eurovision 1974 in Brighton to the Barcelona Olympic Games of ‘92. In the early 80s Peret Reyes founded the Chipen duo with Johnny Tarradellas and published Volao (Belter, 1984), Gitanos de Gresca (Horus, 1988), Jonnhy & Peret (Pdi, 1989) and Veritat (PDI Rumbasa, 1990). He also collaborated with Gato Pérez on the record Ten (Picap, 1988). He founded other groups too: Salsa Gitana with Mayito Fernández, Estrelles de Gràcia in the shadow of Gato Pérez, with whom he was a regular collaborator, and Papawa, with whom he released two records; Tiene La Llave (Nuevos Medios 2007) y Toca Madera (Ventilador 2010). Peret Reyes instantly connects with the audience and creates an air of complicity essential for the flow of the rumba.

He is one of those who pioneered the use of the table as a percussion instrument. Cop de Taula (Taller de Músics, 2012), his new album in Catalan, continues with the journey back to the authentic roots of the rumba in Barcelona.