Quite a few of my selections in this series do not necessarily constitute a specific memory, but rather simply and unfailingly have a positive effect on my mood when I hear them.
Here is one such song. I’ve always been partial to Latin music, with acoustic guitar at the top of the list as far as instruments are concerned. It’s a little wonder that I like Gipsy Kings.

Actually, there is a bit of useless trivia associated with the group. I rarely go to live performances and almost never to non-Russian ones. But I’ve been to a Gipsy Kings live performance at NYC Radio City Music Hall, sometime in the mid-90s.
A friend and I used to meet up pretty regularly at a Tapas Bar on E. 96th Street, and this was played every fifth song for about a year.
What happened afterwards? You can’t tell me anyone can get tired of it!
I’m not sure if it was music or food, but the place went out of business.
Food, definitely.
In my days of Russian restaurant hopping I’ve seen them perform once in Queens. Don’t even remember the name of the place.
Kostyan, I have doubts whether an internationally acclaimed group would perform at a Queens restaurant – it was likely more that the restaurant’s own band playing their songs – but then, stranger things happen…