Charo Celebrates Her ‘Cuchi-Cuchi’ & Her Unforgettable ‘Love Boat’ Years (EXCLUSIVE)
I had the honor to sit down with the amazing actor/singer/flamenco guitarist Charo before she took the stage at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, California, in celebration of the re-release of her 1977 smash hit LP Cuchi-Cuchi.
The remastered Cuchi-Cuchi is available in two limited-edition colored vinyl. An expanded CD version includes five bonus tracks, featuring the festive holiday favorite “(Mamacita) ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus?”
Charo chatted about how she received the role of April Lopez on The Love Boat, how her iconic “cuchi-cuchi” came about, and how that sexy LP cover happened!
Let’s talk about The Love Boat.
Yes, it was beautiful.
How did you get the role of April Lopez?
Aaron Spelling heard about me, but I was too busy. Aaron Spelling was trying to invite me to The Love Boat, but then I was very busy, very busy, too much.
He went again to Norman Brokaw [Charo’s agent] and Spelling said, “How can we bring [in] Charo?” And he said, “You got to go to see her [at the Sahara]. She said, ‘No’ to everything. She’s really busy and tired.” So, Aaron Spelling went with a few people, and they saw me at the Sahara. After the show, I was very respectful to him. Spelling asked, “Please,” and I said, “OK, I do one show. But it has to be when I don’t have two shows [at that Sahara]. We must make an agreement with the Sahara because I need to sleep.”
Everett Collection
So, it was only one show. I went there and I didn’t have to audition or nothing. The role was prepared. It was me with the name April. It was me. I don’t have a problem with the accent. I don’t have any problem with anything. It was me pretending that I was a pro. I did my best because it was love at first sight. The best cast in the world. We hug each other and they say, “We love you. We hope you like this show. We hope you like us.” Love Boat is heaven for me.
Immediately, the rating and the reaction was so big that they wanted me to be steady, but I could not.
NOTE: Charo was a recurring character on The Love Boat and guested on nine episodes in the role of April Lopez during the run of the series.
Tell me about your pregnancy on The Love Boat.
I tried to fake it, but I looked like a watermelon with heels. The Captain did it! [laughing] It was not the captain, believe me. I grew up and I find my family there. I got every minute, every picture, everything from that boat.
So, the best time in my life – I loved it. I stayed together with them [the cast] and we are going to get together in November in Florida.
You recorded the “Love Boat” song too on your other album. Was it ever released as a single?
Oh my god, a huge hit in Europe!
NOTE: Charo’s version of The Love Boat theme was released in December 1978 on her second LP Olé, Olé
Did you keep anything from the set, from The Love Boat?
I have the outfit [April’s first dress she wore on The Love Boat]. About two years ago, they invited me on The View. It was Halloween, and everybody was dressing like their favorite character. Ana Navarro dressed up as April from Love Boat, and I just show up with the same outfit.
Clever ladies – I like them, they are beautiful.
With the limited edition re-release of your album Cuchi-Cuchi what was your favorite track?
The song is called “Dance a Little Bit Closer.”
NOTE: “Dance a Little Bit Closer” was a hit in 1977, reaching #18 on the USA Dance charts and #44 in the UK charts.
How did you choose the photo for the Cuchi-Cuchi LP cover?
They wanted to take a picture in Los Angeles, [so] they sent a photographer from Philadelphia. I was planning to have a beautiful bikini – trust me – my sister makes a bikini so beautiful with sequins. But I jump into the water to see how it feels, [wearing only the white t-shirt], and the position [of the camera] because it’s such a big pool, and then start taking a lot of pictures [in the white t-shirt]. Then they get to take pictures later with the bikini. Ooooh! And that is the one they picked! [Charo points to her album cover.]
How did Cuchi-Cuchi come about?
My grandmother had a dog that she picked from some place that was going to let the dog die. He had broken something in his back. With a wheelbarrow, she went and picked up that dog and brought her to their farm. The dog healed the best he could, and they call it Cuchillo because he bites people that he doesn’t love. Cuchillo means knife. I love that dog. It was my people. But the dog, because he was damaged severely, he wiggled like this, [Charo imitates the dog’s wiggle] – I’m not kidding you. I copy him and I said to people, my uncle and everybody, “Cuchi-cuchi-cuchi-cuchi-cuchi-cuchi!” Every time I say that, they give me money. I became a rich b**ch at the age [of] three and four.
Credit Mike Pingel
What is next for you?
Well, I got a disease called “Ants in my Pants.” I got to move. I got [a] big project. I want to have a real podcast. They’re going to hate me, but I got to help people with the right food to eat. What they should do, education, dedicated time to teach [the] young. I feel so sorry for Generation Z. They’re lost. They are missing their root. They have their hunger to know the truth, accept the love, accept that there are people that are ready to help them.
The Love Boat Celebration at Sea will take place on Regal Princess, a week-long cruise to the Western Caribbean on November 16, 2025. Meet and greets and other activities will be held on the voyage with the cast members of the TV series The Love Boat which will include Lauren Tewes (Julie McCoy), Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing), Fred Grandy (Burl “Gopher” Smith), Ted Lange (Isaac Washington), Bernie Kopell ( Dr. Adam Bricker), and Charo (April Lopez).
Remind 
1970s Fall TV
September 2023
Take a trip back to the ’70s by looking at the TV Guide Magazine Fall Preview primetime lineups.
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