Much of the information given in English in the posts on this thread, can be sourced from "Parce que nous sommes Gitans," a French-language biography written by journalist Francois Mattei several decades ago at the time of the break-out success of "Bamboleo."

Figuring large in the detailed chapters of this book, was a young man who played guitar, contributed backing vocals, and worked very hard at "palmas," the hand-clapping with which "gitan" musicians accompany singers and guitarists. He went, and still goes, by the nickname "Chico" and he married a sister of the Reyes brothers, becoming literally a brother-in-law. His entry into Los Reyes dates back to the last years with José Reyes, and he was present for the inevitable family transition when the patriarch died.

His official name is Jahloul Bouchikhi, and he is what the French call a "Beur" in the backwards argot of 'verlan.' I understand this to mean that he was born in France of immigrants who came from North Africa. He was known as "chico" from an early age, playing and going to school with children who spoke mixtures of French, Spanish, and Catalan; and, after he married into Los Reyes, his own children would be raised much the same way, in the south of France.

Chico Bouchikhi would do much to keep Los Reyes going during the lean years, not truly a leader but often the go-between in business dealings, as the musical group became more successful. When Francois Mattei's book concludes, the Gipsy Kings are in happily-ever-after mode, one cohesive group, with one Bouchikhi, three Baliardo brothers, and Nicolas Reyes the most fixed and stable of the brothers Reyes while his brothers would come and go and come back to the group with periodic regularity.

Real life intruded only a few years after the book was published. By now The Gipsy Kings was a money-making machine with best-selling recordings and world-wide tours; and inevitably the musicians realized that their management was the opposite of transparent, and that money was not being accounted for. Chico Bouchikhi, fairly or unfairly, was caught in the crossfire. The dispute ended up in civil court, with royalties, copyrights, compositions, and group names under negotiation. It proved simplest for Chico to leave the group and to continue making music with different musicians, under more modest circumstances. Today, with his children grown, Chico is philosophical, answering questions by maintaining that all has turned out for the best.