He's originally from Arles, in the South of France; from La Camargue, a region of wild horses and bulls. But he feels as Spanish as his grandparents, who emigrated to that area, where he was born, just like many of the Reyes, the huge Gypsy family from which his famous relatives, The Gipsy Kings, emerged.

While we may appreciate his artistic and geographic comings and goings, Mario Reyes, "The Gipsy Man," is really more of a citizen of the world. Just yesterday he was playing a duet with Andrea Bocelli; and, maybe tomorrow –or when circumstances will allow– he might finally end up sharing the stage with Sting, making true one of his fondest dreams.

Besides, thanks to his surprising gift for languages, he is unquestionably a citizen of the world: he's mastered French, Spanish, English, Italian, Catalan and even the "Gypsy," that tongue-dialect-slang that fuses idioms, subjects and verbs of various other languages.

A guitar virtuoso and a traveler, both by calling and for the love of art, the magical talent of Mario Reyes is everywhere - even on television, in the US, during the beginning of each broadcast of the soap opera "El Clon," with its theme music, which he plays along with Sandra Echeverría.

Currently, Mario Reyes is celebrating the recent launch of his album "The Gipsy Man Sings From the Middle East," in which he's accompanied by great stars from that part of the world. A joint vision of Luis Medina and Albert Hagar, who wrote most of the songs, each track reflects a fusion of Arab and Gypsy elements, not only in the language but also in the arrangements, quite representative of the Gypsy and Middle Eastern musical cultures, where it has attracted quite a following.

Albert Hagar, who died suddenly on December 26, 2009, leaves this recording as the valuable heritage of his Lebanese roots in the opening music of "El Clon," a soap opera which features most of his compositions.

A man in charge of his own destiny, Mario Reyes started playing the guitar between the ages of seven
and eight: "sure, we're born clutching a guitar!"

Since the Reyes also have relatives in Barcelona, that's where his fondness for Catalan Rumba comes from. It's the rhythm that they –as their elders did– play together most often. However, and thanks to his own evolution, Mario has also made successful inroads in the styles of Bulería, Soledad and Tango, reaching much closer to what's called "Flamenco Puro," a musical expression which he loves.

An ardent and accomplished professional of his instrument, he points out that his favorite guitar players are, among others, Camarón de la Isla, Manitas de Plata and Paco De Lucía. He describes the latter with a phrase of spontaneous eloquence: "to me, he's God."

Some think he's a regular member of the Gipsy Kings. Mario Reyes responds by clarifying: "I played with them on a world tour. I belong to the same family. I am also a Reyes. I was their lead guitar on their 1995 world tour. Thanks to them I conquered my fear of playing in front of an audience. The first time was for 15 thousand people at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia.

Responsibly imposing limits to his artistic ability, he confesses that it was the ultra famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli who suggested that they sing together "and in Spanish, for the first time." The song, composed by Mario, is a ballad called "Sin tu amor" ("Without Your Love",) and it's one of the tracks in Bocelli's album called "Andrea."

Always faithful to his guitar, going deeper into pure Flamenco, Mario feels a kind of fascination for Arabic music, the realm of his own culture, which pays homage to the mother of the guitar: the Lute.

The best reward of such a personal interest has a name: "The Gipsy Man Sings From the Middle East" (by Mario Reyes,) the record that he made in Los Angeles, California. It has duos with superstars of Arabic music, Carol Samaha and Ilham Al Madfai, as well as the promising new talents Qusai y Malika.

Several of those songs interpreted by Mario Reyes are included in the international soap opera "El Clon." Besides playing the guitar, he also composed the song "Inocente." His two current promotional singles are titled "El velo del amor" ("The Veil of Love") and "Quédate conmigo" ("Stay With Me".)

What's unique about his career, at least in the current phase, is that this is his first album as a solo artist. Though he did record in the past, it was in a Latin-Jazz style, with famous musicians such as Dominique Couler, Manu Caché and Pino Paladino. "They weren't commercial projects, but directed toward a more specific audience."

Originally, Mario Reyes was the director of Los Reyes. From the 1999-2000 season, he resumed his solo pursuits, performing under his actual name, but accompanied by a group with two guitars, one singer, bass, drums and a female chorus, which gives a solid presence to the characteristic sound of Rumba Flamenca, forming the basis of his sound around the world.

Innovative as always, meanwhile, he's preparing his new show. It's a leading edge concept: he plans on adding female dancers, who will alternate Flamenco with Hip-Hop on the stage, a bold choreography in terms of concept and fusion.

A recipient of the ‘Drop of Life’ award, from City of Hope, the California organization that treats Cancer patients, the price he must pay to be close to his fans is being away from his family, which occasionally causes pangs of passive angst.

The best, then, is to unpack his guitar and play it, making people happy, see them laugh and dance at each show.

"was born on July 20, 1974. His address is… the world! He does have two temporary homes, which he alternates: one in La Camargue, at the delta of the Rhone, in the South of France, and the other one is in a most appropriate region: Los Angeles, in Southern California.