He also released his first solo album in 18 years last year called "This Is What I Do." She is also known for her wild "cuchi-cuchi" stage persona, a campy act in which she madly swivels her hips, presenting herself as both a sex symbol and a parody of a sex symbol at the same time. These days, after a short stint in jail for imprisoning a male escort in his home, George is a club DJ. Indeed, into the '80s she became the textbook case of celebrity media saturation. “What cuchi cuchi came from is such a disappointment for everybody when they know because everybody thinks that is sex,” Charo said. All rights reserved. the Spanish star told the Associated Press. "Sofía Vergara is Charo with diarrhea," the Spanish star told the Associated Press last October. She is a wife and mother of 3 with a fun-loving spirit, believing that family and relationships are invaluable. She showed up on all the talk shows and variety programs, and even comedy/dramas like The Love Boat (eight times! January 15, 1951 – Charo: “Cuchi-Cuchi has taken me all the way to the bank.” If for some reason you’re not familiar with her, Charo is a pop culture oddity who appeared on television talk shows and variety hours seemingly all the time in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. She was performing. ", followed by 1257 people on Pinterest. Charo, 63, sat down for an interview in her Beverly Hills home and spoke about the origins of her iconic catchphrase. She was awarded the title of the Best Flamenco Guitarist of all time, 2 years in a row, by Guitar Player magazine. Charo became a familiar face and figure to American TV viewers in the '70s, making comedic appearances on Chico & The Man, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and just about every talk show. C-U-C-H-I-L-L-O, that was the name of … The comparison, however, has been graphically repudiated by Charo. Moments before our phone interview, the 68-year-old singer, flamenco guitar virtuoso and “Love Boat” actress was playing Beverly Hills dog catcher — in high heels, obviously — as she chased down her dog before it escaped across Sunset Boulevard. To gain recognition in America, Charo started using her signature shimmy while saying Cuchi Cuchi. Shake of the hips accompanied by a squealed "cuchi-cuchi!" She is also an actress, appearing on iconic TV shows like The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hollywood Squares, and many others. Cuchi-Cuchi showed me the way to the bank so thank you very much everybody.”. ... of her success and sets the record straight about the real meaning of her multimillion-dollar catchphrase “Cuchi-Cuchi.” Before "Love Boat" she came to … The flamenco guitarist known for her appearances as April Lopez in the long-running comedy show “The Love Boat” is the latest star to be featured on OWN’s “Oprah… He was a mix between a St. Bernard and a pit bull. If you thought Charo’s trademark “cuchi cuchi!” was even remotely sexual, the actress is about to take your mind out of the gutter. ... She's a VIP guest star on 'The Love Boat.' Charo is still catching her breath. Discover & share this Tv GIF with everyone you know. CHARO: What Cuchi-Cuchi come from it is such a disappointment for everybody when they know because everybody thinks that is sex. What made me laugh the most about Charo was her trade mark squeal, "Cuchi-Cuchi". Dina Shore's show: 9 times. TV Star: 'Ed Sullivan' to 'Chico and the Man' and 'The Love Boat' Charo appeared with Cugat and alone on The Ed Sullivan Show several times in the late 1960s. According to the birth certificate on file in Murcia, Charo was born in 1941, though she has claimed to be as much as ten years younger. It's no surprise Charo wanted to shorten her moniker to become famous. She married the famous Spanish bandleader Xavier Cugat in 1966 -- whether she was 15 or 25 on her wedding day, she was still vastly younger than her 66-year old groom. Charo has always prided herself in her innate ability to entertain audiences—whether performing her inimitable disco dance hits “Stay With Me,” “Dance A Little Bit Closer,” and “Cuchi, Cuchi” in concert or appearing on TV shows like The Love Boat, The Tonight Show, and Dancing with the Stars.. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. Today is National Voter Registration Day! Photo: Jason Altaan. Merv Griffin: 39 times. featured on OWN’s “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” series. We Are In Complete Awe Of These Magical Photos From The... 61 Groovy Photos That Captured More Than Expected, Spanish-born bandleader Xavier Cugat (1900 - 1990) looks at his wife and compatriot, the musician and comedian Charo, as they appear on the CBS variety program 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' New York, February 26, 1967. But audiences were often unaware what they were seeing -- Charo's broken English and hammy acting overshadowed the fact that she was one of the world's greatest flamenco guitarists. Charo’s trademark expression, “Cuchi-Cuchi”, has endeared her to the world. The Spanish star and Colombian actress Sofía Vergara have often been compared due to their quirky but sexy personas and thick accents. If you thought Charo’s trademark “cuchi cuchi!” was even remotely sexual, the actress is about to take your mind out of the gutter.