Charly B
Encyclopedia
Charly B, born Charles Blanvillain in 1981, is a French reggae
singer-songwriter who performs, and whose music is distributed, internationally.
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
.
, and recorded his album "Forever" at Geejam Studios (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.
to meet Pionear from Germaican Records, then by Stylordz of Toronto 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, he visited Hanoï
and Ho Chi Minh City
. Upon his return, he attended the ROTOTOM Sunsplash Festival in August 2010. He divides his time between Jamaica and France.
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer-songwriter who performs, and whose music is distributed, internationally.
Debut
Born in Rome to a family of musicians, he is of French, GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
descent. At the age of 4, his family moved to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, where he spent most of his childhood. He was fascinated by music, and discovered reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
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
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
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
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
reggae such as Capleton
Capleton
Capleton is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. He is also referred to as King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet. His record label is called David House Productions...
, Kiprich
Kiprich
Kiprich , formerly known as Crazy Kid, is a popular dancehall deejay. He, like his mentor Elephant Man, is a member of The Alliance, a group of Gangsta-themed deejays....
, De Marco and Anthony B
Anthony B
Anthony B is the stage name of Keith Blair , a Jamaican musician and member of the Rastafari movement....
.
Career
In 2002, at the age of 21, he was voted best DJ in Geneva. In 2003, he wrote a song for the movie "Destination Jamaica" by George Tait (Jungle George) In December 2003, his song "My Queen" was included in a DVD distributed with the Austrian surfers' magazine Methodmag (60,000 copies). In 2005 he was voted the best DJ in Switzerland, in a contest organized by Giddeon Productions. 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, (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" in the Reggae Europe competition. He has registered more than 100 songs composed by him (music and lyrics), in French and English and in Jamaican slang, with the French-based Society of Lyricists, Composers and Music Editors (SACEM).Encounter with Jon Baker
In summer 2009, he had what he referred to as "a crucial encounter" with the producer Jon BakerJon Baker (producer)
Jon Baker is a music industry executive. He has worked as a fashion designer, promoter, and is currently co-owner of Geejam, a luxury resort and recording studio located in San San, near Port Antonio, Jamaica.-Early Life:Baker was born in 1960...
, and recorded his album "Forever" at Geejam Studios (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
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
, founder of Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
), has discovered many talented performers, among them most recently the reggae singer Alborosie
Alborosie
Alberto D'Ascola , better known by his stage name Alborosie, is an Italian reggae artist. Born and raised in Marsala, Sicily, Italy, but now residing in Kingston, Jamaica. He is a multi-instrumentalist, being proficient in guitar, bass, drums and keyboard...
and The Jolly Boys
The Jolly Boys
The Jolly Boys is a mento band from Port Antonio, Jamaica. It was formed in 1955 and had great commercial success in the late 1980s and 1990s among reggae and world music fans...
. As a result, Charly B gained the confidence of Reggae Europe, who co-produced the "Forever" album.
Tours and international invitations
At the end of 2009, he was invited to LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
to meet Pionear from Germaican Records, then by Stylordz of Toronto 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, he visited Hanoï
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
. Upon his return, he attended the ROTOTOM Sunsplash Festival in August 2010. He divides his time between Jamaica and France.
Albums
- 2000 : Chu-chu Stylordz Production – Canada
- 2001 : Move Stylordz Production – Canada
- 2002 : Vengence 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.).
- Release in 2011: Album Forever
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 nov. 2009 for the anniverary of Zulu Nation
- Vidéo of the radio interview in Toronto, Canada
- Forever – shot in Port Antonio, Jamaica in Sept. 2010.
- Video of the ROTOTOM Sunsplash festival concert in August 2010
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 SembrancherSembrancherSembrancher is a municipality in the district of Entremont in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Sembrancher is first mentioned in 1177 as Sancti Pancratii de Branchi. Its German name St Branschier is no longer used.-Geography:...
, Switzerland - 10 February 2005 – The Hacienda, Chambéry, France
- 3 March 2005 – The Safari Bar – ChamonixChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
, 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, ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland - 14–20 Nov. 2005 -Palexpo, Fair of GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland (first part of Michel Fugain) - 15 June 2005 – Reggae Radio ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland – Radio show – final – Swiss Singjay Contest - 27 August 2005 – Turatznurg – Zollikon, Switzerland
- 9 September 2005 – Flon Jugendkulturraum – St. GallenSt. GallenSt. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
, Switzerland - 10 September 2005 – Salle du Séminaire – Porrentruy, Switzerland
- 21 September 2005 – Doors 72 – Bienne, Switzerland
- 18 November 2005 – Bist'rock café, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 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, ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland - 17 March 2006 – L'arcade – GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 6 April 2006 – Piment Rouge – Artamis, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 28 April 2006 – Flon Jugendkulturraum – St. GallenSt. GallenSt. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
Switzerland - 29 April 2006 – Sputnik – Mettmenstetten, Switzerland
- 27 May 2006 – Kulturzentrum Schützi – OltenOltenOlten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland and capital of the district of the same name.Olten's railway station is within 30 minutes of Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Lucerne by train, and is a rail hub of Switzerland.-History:...
, Switzerland - 30 September 2006 – La Coupole Bienne, Switzerland
- 20 October 2006 – Ex-Cubitano, ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland - 20 December 2006 – Le Chat Noir, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 30 December 2006 Arcade, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 5 January 2007 Piment Rouge, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(1st part of Yannis Odua), Switzerland - 6 January 2007 Cosy Bay, LausanneLausanneLausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland - 13 January 2007 KBar GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 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, VillarsVillars-In France:*Villars, Dordogne*Villars, Eure-et-Loir*Villars, Loire*Villars, Vaucluse*Villars-les-Dombes, Ain*Villars-le-Sec, Territoire de Belfort-In Switzerland:*Canton of Jura** Villars, Jura, Switzerland in the municipality Fontenais*Canton of Fribourg...
, Switzerland - 2 March 2007 Kbar, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 9 mars 2007 – Jet d'eau – Le bateau GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 10 March 2007 Blue Moon Café, Logras, Rhône Alpes, France
- 24 March 2007 Stand up festival, Bühlhalle, Switzerland
- 20 April 2007 Kbar GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 26 April 2007 Zélig, Dorigny, LausanneLausanneLausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland - 27 April 2007 Le matin Bleu, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 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 – NyonNyonNyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
Switzerland - 30 June 2007 – Piment Rouge, GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland - 12 October 2007 Usine de Nyon – NyonNyonNyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
, Switzerland - 7 December 2007 – Alte Kaserne, ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland - 2 February 2008 – Gaskessel – La Coupole, Bienne, Switzerland
- 16 February 2008 – Cosmos, Thyon les Collons – VS, Switzerland
- 14 June 2008 – Rote Fabrik, ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake 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 – ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
– Switzerland - 24 April 2009 Celtic Tavern, Aurillac, France
- 8 January 2009 – KAB de l'usine – GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Switzerland - 9 January 2009 – Bar59 – Luzern Switzerland
- 10 April 2009 – Regg'Ain Festival, Segny, France
- 27 June 2009 – Sky club – NyonNyonNyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
Switzerland - 10 October 2009 – LeipzigLeipzigLeipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
(Allemagne) - November 2009 – New York (USA) (Anniversary Zulu Nation – Bronx) and Toronto *12 December 2009 – Bar 59 – Luzern Switzerland
- 19 December 2009 – Bashment – GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Switzerland - 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 CityHo Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Vietnam - 28 May 2010 – Reggae dancehall party – Saint-Genis, France
- 23 July 2010 – Siroco Club – BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, 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