| Los Niños de Sara | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Montpellier, France |
| Genres | Rumba Flamenco |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Atoll Music LoveCat Music |
| Associated acts | Alabina, Paco de Lucía |
| Website | Bio on LoveCat Music |
| Members | |
| Antonio Contreras Ramón Compas Santiago Lorente Coco |
|
Los Niños de Sara (in Spanish, "Sara's children") are Spanish-speaking Gypsies from Montpellier, France. They perform on their own, but they are best known for the involvement in the musical group Alabina.
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They are cousins from Nîmes, France, who have been playing together since they were 14 years old. Described as a cross between the Gipsy Kings and Buena Vista Social Club, the group blends rumba and flamenco music and features a touch of North African influence.[1]
After backing flamenco artists including Manitas de Plata and Paco de Lucía, they formed the group Alabina with vocalist Ishtar. Alabina, which combined flamenco music and Arabic vocals, topped the World Music and Latin charts in Billboard magazine.[1]
The group is presently recording a new album.
The four cousins are named Antonio ("Tonio") (also written Antoine) Contreras, Ramón Compas, Santiago ("Santi") Lorente, and Coco. Though they speak both Spanish and French, they only sing in their native Spanish. Tonio, the lead male singer, plays guitar. In addition to all providing back-up vocals, Ramón and Santi play guitar and Coco plays percussion.
On their own, Los Niños have produced two CDs: La Cubanita (2001) and Gipsyolé (2003). Their songs often speak of family, love, and God. Los Niños are Catholic.
Their birthdays are: Tonio, March 27; Ramón, January 7; Santi, September 4; and Coco, September 5.
They currently live in France.