BROWNFIELD — Charo, the Spanish-American actress, comedienne and flamenco guitarist — known for her provocative outfits, broken English and trademark “cuchi-cuchi” — will take the stage at Stone Mountain Arts Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

“The real Charo,” according to Stone Mountain publicity, “plays flamenco guitar like an athlete on steriods. It was her major in college and those of us in the music business know that what is hidden under the big hair and charming stage banter is an incredible musician.”

Charo was twice voted Best Classical Flamenco Guitarist in the World by Guitar Player Magazine and won a Billboard International Latin Music Award, according to her website.

Charo, short for Rosario, her given name of Maria Rosario Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza, was born in the town of Murcia, Spain. She learned to play guitar at an early age and studied under Andres Segovia, a world renowned master of flamenco guitar.

According to her website, Charo teamed up with famed Latin bandleader Xavier Cugat and traveled to Las Vegas where the band played in the major casinos. She soon began performing solo at the Congo Room at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, sharing the stage with the likes of Johnny Carson, Joey Bishop, Danny Thomas, Buddy Hackett, Jim Nabors and George Burns.

Her disco albums, “La Salsa” and “Flamenco Salsa,” recorded on Capitol Records, became hits. The single “Cuchi-Cuchi” went platinum and was played in nightclubs worldwide. Her follow-up album, “Ole-Ole,” became an international hit.

During much of the late 1980s to late 1990s, Charo lived in Hawaii, where she opened and performed at her own dinner theater. In the 2000s, she appeared in television commercials for Sprint wireless phone service and GEICO insurance, and appeared as a guest on “Hollywood Squares.” She now tours and performs in Branson, Mo., and Las Vegas.

The show will begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75. Dinner (not included in ticket price) is available by reservation before the show. For more information, visit www.stonemountainartscenter.com or call 935-7292.

Comments are no longer available on this story

filed under: