Tonino Baliardo, the founding guitarist of the Gipsy Kings, has one focus: the album “Historia,” which hits stores on May 15. 

Speaking through translator Nael Darwish, Baliardo emphasizes family and tradition — the core of “Historia,” which he recorded with his sons and extended family. “This album is about gypsy culture,” Baliardo says through Darwish. “About simplicity.” The same goes for his Gipsy King shows. They’re a “big gypsy fiesta.”

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That love drives “Historia,” a return to the roots: the sound of family gatherings, guitars passed around, and a culture built on rhythm, joy and simplicity. 

The stories spill out easily — performing at Charlie Chaplin’s table, becoming inseparable from Brigitte Bardot after meeting her on a beach in the South of France, and playing for crowds in Los Angeles, including Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

But Baliardo talks about those moments in the same tone he uses to describe writing a song for his 7‑year‑old grandson, Milan. 

Az Big Media: Your new album arrives in May. What inspired it?  

Darwish: [Baliardo] retraced his life story and his family story. It’s really about what gypsy culture is — family, tradition, simplicity. He recorded it with his sons and extended family.

Was it difficult working so closely with your sons?  

Darwish: With his eldest, they rarely see eye to eye. But they make it work because they were born into this music. They know the cultural weight it carries.

Why does this album feel important right now?  

Darwish: Because it carries lightness. Recording with family and friends preserves that joy. It’s what the world needs.

Your career includes some incredible encounters — Charlie Chaplin, Brigitte Bardot. Tell me about those shows.

Darwish: He performed at a restaurant at Chaplin’s table. And Bardot — they met on a beach before the first album. She invited them to all her parties in the South of France. You’ll see that story in the Amazon Prime documentary coming out the same week as the album.

What kept you passionate about music all these years?  

Darwish: Very simple — the music itself. He picked up a guitar at six or seven and just continued. He loves writing songs. It’s all he’s ever done.

What was the first concert you remember attending?  

Darwish: Paco de Lucía, in the south of France. Flamenco‑inspired guitarists — those were his first memories.

Is there a signature song on the new album?  

Darwish: “Big Bang.” His grandson Milan asked him to write a song about aliens and monsters. So, he did. It really captures the family spirit of the Gipsy Kings.

What did it feel like the first time you picked up a guitar?  

Darwish: A lot of emotion. He remembers sitting with his parents, everyone picking up guitars. What you hear now from the Gipsy Kings comes from that family time.

What else should listeners know about the record?  

Darwish: That it’s gypsy tradition. In a world of overproduced songs, this album is about simplicity — what gypsy culture really is.