Charly B

Charly B
Charly B – Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2010 Spain.
Background information
Birth name	Charles Blanvillain
Also known as	Charly B
Labels	Geejam Recordings, Forward Recordings
Associated acts	Inout Experience

Charly B, born Charles Blanvillain in 1981, is a French reggae singer-songwriter who performs, and whose music is distributed, internationally.

Biography

Debut

Born in Rome to a family of musicians, he is of French, German and Armenian descent. At the age of 4, his family moved to Geneva, where he spent most of his childhood. He was fascinated by music, and discovered reggae at the age of 15, when he spent a year at IONA High School in Jamaica, living with a Jamaican family, in a program sponsored by the American Field Service. Later on, he studied sound engineering at the School of Recording Arts, Canada and at the Sound and Audio Engineering School in Geneva.

He composed his first reggae song at the age of 15. His musical studies in Canada, long visit to Jamaica, and time spent living in France near the Swiss border form the cultural underpinnings of his artistic vision. He has collaborated with legends of dancehall reggae such as Capleton, Kiprich, De Marco and Anthony B.

Career

In 2002, at the age of 21, he was voted best DJ in Geneva.^[1][2] In 2003, he wrote a song for the movie "Destination Jamaica" by George Tait (Jungle George)^[3] In December 2003, his song "My Queen" was included in a DVD distributed with the Austrian surfers' magazine Methodmag^[4][5] (60,000 copies). In 2005 he was voted the best DJ in Switzerland, in a contest organized by Giddeon Productions.^[6][7] Unfortunately, he was not able to take advantage of the prize, a concert on the main stage of Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2005, as he had committed to visit Jamaica that summer. He therefore gave the prize to Elijah, the runner-up in the competition. In 2007, Eliane Dambre of the Ateliers du Funambule, decided to nominate him for the Eurovision competition as Switzerland's candidate,^[8] (in competition with DJ Bobo), but the attempt was made too late to qualify him for the contest. More recently, in 2009, he won an award for "Best Reggae Song"^[9] in the Reggae Europe competition. He has hundreds of songs composed by him (music and lyrics), in French and English and in Jamaican slang, registered with the French-based Society of Lyricists, Composers and Music Editors (SACEM).^[10] In February 2013, he wins a podium at the Victories of Reggae 2013 in the category "Revelation of the Year". The Jamaican newspapers "Jamaican Observer" write a great article on his career in February 2013, February being the "Reggae Month" ^[11] In June 2013, he wins the Price of the Public and the best author-composer price at the Zicmeup Competition in Paris organized by Zicmeup/the Voice.

Encounter with Jon Baker

In summer 2009, he had what he referred to as "a crucial encounter" with the producer Jon Baker, and recorded his album "Forever" at Geejam Studios^[12] (to be released in 2011 under the Geejam Recordings/ Forward Recordings label). This was a very important introduction for the artist, as the British producer (a friend of Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records), has discovered many talented performers, among them most recently the reggae singer Alborosie and The Jolly Boys. As a result, Charly B gained the confidence of Reggae Europe, who co-produced the "Forever" album.^[13]

Tours and international invitations

At the end of 2009, he was invited to Leipzig to meet Pionear from Germaican Records,^[14] then by Stylordz of Toronto^[15][16] to New York for the anniversary of Zulu Nation. In Toronto he shot a music video for the song "Ooh No". In 2010, at the invitation of the CAMA Festival,^[17] he visited Hanoï and Ho Chi Minh City. Upon his return, he attended the ROTOTOM Sunsplash Festival^[18][19] in August 2010. He divides his time between Jamaica and France.

Discography

Albums

• 2000 : Chu-chu Stylordz Production – Canada
• 2001 : Move Stylordz Production – Canada
• 2002 : Vengeance to God Ladies Party
• 2003 : My Queen Pow Pow records – MethodMag – Europe
• 2004 : Album Reality Redhemption Production
• 2004 : Album More Reality Redhemption Production
• 2005 : Album Thugz Style Severely III Production, La plus belle femme (Video clip on TVM3)
• 2006 : Album Family Affair Redhumption Production, Several titles in album Hemp Higher Sound
• 2007 : Album International Ting – Charly B and the Official Band
• 2008 : Album Zulu Nation Stylordz Production – Canada (Amazon.com an E-music.com)
• 2009 : Several titles in the album Redhemption Sound fi All Africans
• 2010 : Album Tomorrow is just another day (with Henry P.).
• 2012: Album "Forever" French Edition released on 29 October 2012.

Singles

• Rock and come in
• Le rêveur
• The dreamer
• Brown Eyes

Video clips

• Chu-chu – shot in Canada
• La plus belle femme – shot in Nyon, Switzerland
• On s'empare de la party – shot with La Dixion in Switzerland
• The way you wine- shot in Port Antonio in Jamaica by the studios Geejam
• Ooh No – shot in Toronto au Canada
• Two documentary videos – shot in Port Antonio en Jamaica
• Documentary video shot in New York November 2009 for the anniversary of Zulu Nation
• Vidéo of the radio interview in Toronto, Canada
• Forever – shot in Port Antonio, Jamaica in September 2010.
• Video of the ROTOTOM Sunsplash festival concert in August 2010
• "Everything OK" - shot in Port Antonio, Jamaica, 2012
• "Gipsy" - shot at Trident Castle, Jamaica, 2013

TV Program

• "Special Charly B" on TVM3's TRIBBU show, presented by Philippe Morax (on the air 2005 Nov. 1, from 18h to 19h30).

Shows

• Summer 2003 – Sunrise Festival of Bagnols-sur-Ceze (France)
• 7 January 2005 – Stadium of Sembrancher, Switzerland
• 10 February 2005 – The Hacienda, Chambéry, France
• 3 March 2005 – The Safari Bar – Chamonix, France
• 22 April 2005 – No'Limit – Courchevel, France
• 13 May 2005 Le matin bleu, Annecy, France
• 4 June 2005 – Salzhaus – Winterthur, Switzerland – Singjay Contest 2005
• 10 June 2005 – Schiffbau, Zurich, Switzerland
• 14–20 Nov. 2005 -Palexpo, Fair of Geneva, Switzerland (first part of Michel Fugain)^[20]
• 15 June 2005 – Reggae Radio Zurich, Switzerland – Radio show – final – Swiss Singjay Contest
• 27 August 2005 – Turatznurg – Zollikon, Switzerland
• 9 September 2005 – Flon Jugendkulturraum – St. Gallen, Switzerland
• 10 September 2005 – Salle du Séminaire – Porrentruy, Switzerland
• 21 September 2005 – Doors 72 – Bienne, Switzerland
• 18 November 2005 – Bist'rock café, Geneva, Switzerland
• 25 January 2006 – L'auberge du télé – Contamines, Montjoie, France
• 7 January 2006 – Gaskessel – La Coupole – Bienne, Switzerland
• 25 January 2006 – Contamines Montjoie, France
• 18 February 2006 – Alte Kaserne, Zürich, Switzerland
• 17 March 2006 – L'arcade – Geneva, Switzerland
• 6 April 2006 – Piment Rouge – Artamis, Geneva, Switzerland
• 28 April 2006 – Flon Jugendkulturraum – St. Gallen Switzerland
• 29 April 2006 – Sputnik – Mettmenstetten, Switzerland
• 27 May 2006 – Kulturzentrum Schützi – Olten, Switzerland
• 30 September 2006 – La Coupole Bienne, Switzerland
• 20 October 2006 – Ex-Cubitano, Zurich, Switzerland
• 20 December 2006 – Le Chat Noir, Geneva, Switzerland
• 30 December 2006 Arcade, Geneva, Switzerland
• 5 January 2007 Piment Rouge, Geneva(1st part of Yannis Odua), Switzerland
• 6 January 2007 Cosy Bay, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 13 January 2007 KBar Geneva, Switzerland
• 19 January 2007 Loft – Crans Montana, Switzerland
• 26 January 2007 – Loft, Crans Montana, Switzerland
• 2 March 2007 Thyon les Collons (VS) Switzerland
• 9 February 2007 – Doors 72 – Bienne, Switzerland
• 22 February 2007 Matin Bleu, Annecy, France
• 24 February 2007, Gringo Club, Villars, Switzerland
• 2 March 2007 Kbar, Geneva, Switzerland
• 9 mars 2007 – Jet d'eau – Le bateau Geneva, Switzerland
• 10 March 2007 Blue Moon Café, Logras, Rhône Alpes, France
• 24 March 2007 Stand up festival, Bühlhalle, Switzerland
• 20 April 2007 Kbar Geneva, Switzerland
• 26 April 2007 Zélig, Dorigny, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 27 April 2007 Le matin Bleu, Geneva, Switzerland)
• Mai 2007: Concert au cours du Spectacle annuel des Ateliers du Funambule au théâtre de Terre-Sainte à Coppet, Switzerland
• 7–10 June 2007 – Caribana FESTIVAL – Nyon Switzerland^[21][22]
• 30 June 2007 – Piment Rouge, Geneva, Switzerland
• 12 October 2007 Usine de Nyon – Nyon, Switzerland
• 7 December 2007 – Alte Kaserne, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2 February 2008 – Gaskessel – La Coupole, Bienne, Switzerland
• 16 February 2008 – Cosmos, Thyon les Collons – VS, Switzerland
• 14 June 2008 – Rote Fabrik, Zurich, Switzerland
• 16 August 2008 – Lakesplash – Seematte Twaan, Switzerland
• 15 September 2007 – Snowboard contest Tignes, France
• 2 February 2008 – Concert à Gaskessel, Bern, Switzerland
• 15 November 2008 – C.e.r.m – Martigny, Switzerland
• 21 November 2008 – La Coupole, Bienne – Switzerland
• 24 December 2008 – Alte Kaserne – Zurich – Switzerland
• 24 April 2009 Celtic Tavern, Aurillac, France
• 8 January 2009 – KAB de l'usine – GenevaSwitzerland
• 9 January 2009 – Bar59 – Luzern Switzerland
• 10 April 2009 – Regg'Ain Festival, Segny, France
• 27 June 2009 – Sky club – Nyon Switzerland
• 10 October 2009 – Leipzig^[23] (Allemagne)
• November 2009 – New York (USA) (Anniversary Zulu Nation – Bronx) and Toronto^[24] *12 December 2009 – Bar 59 – Luzern Switzerland
• 19 December 2009 – Bashment – GenevaSwitzerland
• 26 December 2009 – Rockinton Music Pub – Thonon les bains (France)
• 27 March 2010 Les Contamines Montjoie, France
• 1–27 Mai 2010 – Vietnam Tour between Hanoï and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• 28 May 2010 – Reggae dancehall party – Saint-Genis, France
• 23 July 2010 – Siroco Club – Barcelona, Spain
• 24 August 2010 – ROTOTOM SUNSPLASH FESTIVAL 2010 in Benicassim in Spain
• 27 November 2010 – Crystal Club, Port Antonio (Jamaica)
• 26 February 2011 – Success Prod – St Genis (France) with Inout Experience Band from Paris

Notes and references

External links

• CharlyB's official web site
• Charly B on Myspace
• Reggae Europe
• Reggae France
• Giddeon Productions
• Hanoi News