Charles Blanvillain

Charly B (born Charles Blanvillain, 28 September 1981) is a French reggae artist, author, composer, interpreter, performing internationally.

Biography

Early life
Born in Rome, Italy from a family of musicians, he is from French, German and Armenian origins. At the age of 4 he moves to Geneva (Switzerland) where he spends most of his childhood. Music is then everything to him, and he discovers reggae at the age of 15, when he spends one year in Jamaica at IONA High School, hosted in a Jamaican family, having obtained a scholarship from the American Field Service. Later on, after passing his international baccalaureate, he studies sound techniques at the School of Recording Arts, Canada and at the Sound and Audio Engineering School in Geneva, Switzerland.

He starts to be interested in Reggae music very early, and at the age of 15, he composes his first song. His musical studies in Canada, long stays in Jamaica, and time spent living in France near the Swiss border form the cultural triumvirate from which Charly B draws his artistic vision.  He has been singing with legends of dancehall like Capleton, Kiprich, De Marco and Anthony B.

Career
In 2002, at the age of 21, he wins the first prize for the best Geneva (Switzerland) Singjay  In 2003, he writes a song for the movie Destination Jamaica by George Tait (Jungle George)  In 2004, his song "My Queen" appears in the DVD sold with the Austrian surfers' magazine Methodmag, published in 60,000 copies. In 2005 he wins the 1st prize for best Singjay in Switzerland organized by Giddeon Productions  Unfortunately, he cannot take advantage of the prize (concert on the main stage of Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2005) in Italy, as he is expected in Jamaica that summer, and therefore gives his prize to the number 2 in the competition, Elijah. In 2007, Eliane Dambre from the Ateliers du Funambule sponsored by Michel Fugain, which studios are based in Nyon, decides to present his candidacy to the Eurovision for Switzerland, against DJ Bobo to represent Switzerland, but his candidacy is too late to be retained. More recently, in 2009, he has won the price for the best reggae song at the competition organized by Reggae Europe. He has deposited to SACEM over 100 titles entirely composed by him (music and lyrics), in French, English and Jamaican patois.

Encounter with Jon Baker
In summer 2009, he makes what he calls "a crucial encounter" with the producer Jon Baker, and records at Geejam Studios his album Forever, which will be released in 2011 under the label Geejam Recordings/ Forward Recordings. This encounter with Jon Baker is very important for the artist; the British producer (a friend of Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records), has discovered many talents, among which recently the reggae singer Alborosie and The Jolly Boys. Moreover, he gains the confidence of Reggae Europe who partners with Geejam Recordings for the album Forever.

Start of tours and international invitations
At the end of 2009, he is invited in Germany (Leipzig) to meet with Pionear from Germaican records  then invited by Stylordz  in Toronto and New York for the anniversary of Zulu Nation.  In Toronto he shoots the clip of the song "Ooh No". In 2010, invited by the CAMA Festival in Hanoï, Vietnam, he makes a Vietnam tour (Hanoï and Ho Chi Minh City) and upon his return, attends the ROTOTOM Sunsplash Festival in August 2010. He is travelling between Jamaica and France, working on his last album Forever, which will be released in 2011.

International Vietnam Tour
Vietnam Tour Vietnam in May 2010, Hanoï and Ho Chi Minh City interview Cama Festival télé Hanoï

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.).
 Release in 2011:  Album Forever

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
 Deux vidéos documentaires - shot in Port Antonio en Jamaica
 Documentary video shot in New York nov. 2009 for the anniversary 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 Programmes
 "Spécial Charly B" sur TVM3 dans l'émission TRIBBU annimée par Philippe Morax  (diffusée le 1er nov. 2005 de 18h à 19h30).

Shows
 Summer 2003 - Sunrise Festival of Bagnols-sur-Ceze (France)
 7.1.2005 - Stadium of Sembrancher, Switzerland
 10.2.2005 - The Hacienda, Chambéry, France
 3.3.2005 - The Safari Bar - Chamonix, France
 22.4.2005 - No'Limit - Courchevel, France
 13.5.2005 Le matin bleu, Annecy, France
 4.6.2005 - Salzhaus - Winterthur, Switzerland - Singjay Contest 2005
 10.6.2005 - Schiffbau, Zurich, Switzerland
 14-20 nov. 2005 -Palexpo, Fair of Geneva, Switzerland (first part of Michel Fugain)
 15.6.2005 - Reggae Radio Zurich, Switzerland - Radio show - final - Swiss Singjay Contest
 27.8.2005 - Turatznurg - Zollikon, Switzerland
 9.9.2005 - Flon Jugendkulturraum - St. Gallen, Switzerland
 10.9.2005 - Salle du Séminaire - Porrentruy, Switzerland
 21.9.2005 - Doors 72 - Bienne, Switzerland
 18.11.2005 - Bist'rock café,  Geneva, Switzerland
 25.1.2006 - L'auberge du télé - Contamines, Montjoie, France
 7.1.2006 - Gaskessel - La Coupole - Bienne, Switzerland
 25.1.2006 - Contamines Montjoie, France
 18.2.2006 - Alte Kaserne, Zürich,  Switzerland
 17.3.2006 - L'arcade -  Geneva, Switzerland
 6.4.2006 - Piment Rouge - Artamis,  Geneva, Switzerland
 28.4.2006 - Flon Jugendkulturraum - St. Gallen Switzerland
 29.4.2006 - Sputnik - Mettmenstetten, Switzerland
 27.5.2006 - Kulturzentrum Schützi - Olten, Switzerland
 30.9.2006 - La Coupole Bienne, Switzerland
 20.10.2006 - Ex-Cubitano, Zurich, Switzerland
 20.12.2006 - Le Chat Noir,  Geneva, Switzerland
 30.12.2006 Arcade,  Geneva, Switzerland
 5.1.2007 Piment Rouge,  Geneva(1st part of Yannis Odua), Switzerland
 6.1.2007 Cosy Bay, Lausanne, Switzerland
 13.1.2007 KBar  Geneva, Switzerland
 19.1.2007 Loft - Crans Montana, Switzerland
 26.1.2007 - Loft, Crans Montana, Switzerland
 2.3.2007 Thyon les Collons (VS) Switzerland
 9.2.2007 - Doors 72 - Bienne, Switzerland
 22.2.2007 Matin Bleu, Annecy, France
 24.2.2007, Gringo Club,  Villars, Switzerland
 2.3.2007 Kbar,  Geneva,  Switzerland
 9 mars 2007 - Jet d'eau - Le bateau  Geneva, Switzerland
 10.3.2007 Blue Moon Café, Logras, Rhône Alpes, France
 24.3.2007 Stand up festival, Bühlhalle,  Switzerland
 20.4.2007 Kbar  Geneva, Switzerland
 26.4.2007 Zélig, Dorigny, Lausanne, Switzerland
 27.4.2007 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 juin 2007 - Caribana FESTIVAL - Nyon Switzerland
 30.6.2007 - Piment Rouge, Geneva, Switzerland
 12.10.2007 Usine de Nyon - Nyon, Switzerland
 7.12.2007 - Alte Kaserne, Zurich, Switzerland
 2.2.2008 - Gaskessel - La Coupole, Bienne, Switzerland
 16.2.2008 - Cosmos, Thyon les Collons - VS, Switzerland
 14.6.2008 - Rote Fabrik, Zurich, Switzerland
 16.8.2008 - Lakesplash - Seematte Twaan, Switzerland
 15.9.2007 - Snowboard contest Tignes, France
 2.2.08 - Concert à Gaskessel, Bern, Switzerland
 15.11.2008 - C.e.r.m - Martigny, Switzerland
 21.11.08 - La Coupole, Bienne - Switzerland
 24.12.2008 - Alte Kaserne - Zurich - Switzerland
 24.4.2009 Celtic Tavern, Aurillac, France
 8.01.09 - KAB de l'usine -  GenevaSwitzerland
 9.1.09 - Bar59 - Luzern Switzerland
 10.4.2009 - Regg'Ain Festival, Segny, France
 27.6.2009 - Sky club - Nyon Switzerland
 10.10.2009 - Leipzig (Allemagne)
 November 2009 - New York (USA) (Anniversary Zulu Nation - Bronx) and Toronto *12.12.09 - Bar 59 - Luzern Switzerland
 19.12.2009 - Bashment -  GenevaSwitzerland
 26.12.2009 - Rockinton Music Pub - Thonon les bains (France)
 27.3.2010 Les Contamines Montjoie, France
 1-27 Mai 2010 - Vietnam Tour between Hanoï and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
 28.5.2010 - Reggae dancehall party - Saint-Genis, France
 23.7.2010 - Siroco Club - Barcelona, Spain
 24.8.2010 - ROTOTOM SUNSPLASH FESTIVAL 2010 in Benicassim in Spain
 27.11.2010 - Crystal Club, Port Antonio (Jamaica)

Notes and references

Other websites
 Site officiel de CharlyB
 Profil MySpace
 Reggae Europe
 ReverbNation
 Reggae France
 Giddeon Productions
 Hanoi News 

French singers
1981 births
Living people
Reggae musicians
Entertainers from Rome