Sébastien El Chato

Jean-Sébastien Abaldonatao, a French singer and guitarist of gypsy origin with Andalusian roots, was born in Marseille on April 5, 1961. Better known as Sébastien El Chato or simply El Chato, he first made a name for himself in Spain in a flamenco rock vein that was a precursor to the Gipsy Kings. From 1987 to 1994, he was the romantic face of the TV show La Classe. He then abandoned France for the Latin market, where his hits were covered from Mexico to Portugal. In 2001, Sébastien El Chato returned to the memory of French audiences with his participation in the hit musical Roméo et Juliette. In 2008, he released L'Essentiel: 30 Ans de Chansons, a compilation of all his hits. With Quiero Vivir in 2011, he attempts to make his mark in the Latin crooner sun. In 2013, the triple album Venga Venga takes us on a tour of his universe, featuring new songs, adaptations and covers. After a song written for Kendji Girac, his album Au Nom de l'Amour (2016), released under the name Sébastien Chato, is devoted to romantic ballads, while the next, C'Est la Vie (2017), covers Spanish-language classics, apart from the title track. In 2020, J'Pars avec Toi blends the two languages, before a tribute to a famous Spanish crooner in Chante Iglesias (2022). After the release of the Best Of - Ses Plus Belles Chansons compilation in 2023, Sébastien El Chato sings about his roots (2025).