Ben Onono
Encyclopedia
Ben Onono is a British
musician
and songwriter
, born in Cardiff
and raised
in West Africa
. He trained as a concert pianist. He mainly releases house music
, and co-wrote the 2002 Ivor Novello award nominee "It Just Won't Do" single
, released by Tim DeLuxe.
Onono was the featured vocalist in Saffron Hill
's 2003 "My Love is Always There", as well as the character in its music video
.
His debut album
, Native Stranger, featured the song "Close Your Eyes" (which was used in the trailer for Channel 4
's Darren Brown's Trick or Treat). Also from Native Stranger, the track "Blink" was featured on the soundtrack
for the film
, Long Way Down
.
Onono also worked with Futureshock, and complied the song "On My Mind" with them. He provided vocals for a different version of "On My Mind" with Rui Da Silva
in 2008. Onono has written material for Cicada
, Bob Sinclar
, Fat Boy Slim and Natalie Imbruglia
.
His recent hit with Bob Sinclar (Rainbow of Love) can currently be heard on the Europe wide Alfa Romeo car advert. (2011)
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, born in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and raised
Parenting
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood...
in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. He trained as a concert pianist. He mainly releases house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, and co-wrote the 2002 Ivor Novello award nominee "It Just Won't Do" single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, released by Tim DeLuxe.
Onono was the featured vocalist in Saffron Hill
Saffron Hill
Saffron Hill is the name of a street in the south eastern corner of the London Borough of Camden, between Farringdon Road and Hatton Garden. The name of the street derives from the fact that it was at one time part of an estate on which saffron grew....
's 2003 "My Love is Always There", as well as the character in its music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
.
His debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Native Stranger, featured the song "Close Your Eyes" (which was used in the trailer for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Darren Brown's Trick or Treat). Also from Native Stranger, the track "Blink" was featured on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Long Way Down
Long Way Down
"Long Way Down" is a single by the Goo Goo Dolls from their breakthrough album, 1995's A Boy Named Goo. This song is often overshadowed by the low-key ballad "Name", which launched the band to household names...
.
Onono also worked with Futureshock, and complied the song "On My Mind" with them. He provided vocals for a different version of "On My Mind" with Rui Da Silva
Rui da Silva
Rui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
in 2008. Onono has written material for Cicada
Cicada (band)
Cicada is the name of a United Kingdom based electronic music band. Members include producers Aaron Gilbert , Alex Payne and several guest vocalists including Tom Smith from Editors, Heidrun Bjornsdottir, Ben Onono, Max Berlin, Bjorn from Pacific! and most recently Megan Quashie, Joel Pott, Nik...
, Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar
Bob Sinclar, originally spelled "Sinclair" - , is a French record producer, House music DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions.- Career history :...
, Fat Boy Slim and Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...
.
Discography
Studio albums- 2000: Badagry Beach
- Old Baggage
- Tattoo Blue
- On Common Ground
- Like Rain
- Simple Life
- Small World
- Badagry Beach
- Never Had a Dream Come True
- Word to the Wise
- Delilah (I Won't Chase Rainbows)
- Rewind Erase (4.14)
- 2008: Native Stranger
- Radio Silence
- Badagry Beach (6.18)
- Marvin's Groove
- Count to 10
- Day of Days
- Big Blue Moon
- Blink
- Raoul's Wager
- Caramel
- When the Moon Has Past
- Rewind Erase (4.12)
His recent hit with Bob Sinclar (Rainbow of Love) can currently be heard on the Europe wide Alfa Romeo car advert. (2011)