Charles Blanvillain

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

### 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 moved to Geneva (Switzerland) where he spendt most of his childhood. Music is then everything to him, and he discovered reggae at the age of 15, when he spent 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 studied sound techniques at the School of Recording Arts, Canada and at the Sound and Audio Engineering School in Geneva, Switzerland.

At the age of 15, he composed his first song. His musical studies in Canada, long stays in Jamaica, and time spent living in France near the Swiss border form  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 won the first prize for the best Geneva Singjay  In 2003, he wrote a song for the movie Destination Jamaica by George Tait (Jungle George)  In 2004, his song "My Queen" appeared in the DVD sold with the Austrian surfers' magazine Methodmag, published in 60,000 copies. In 2005 he won the 1st prize for best Singjay in Switzerland organized by Giddeon Productions  Unfortunately, he cannot take advantage of the prize, a concert  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, whose studios are based in Nyon, decided to present his candidacy for the Eurovision for Switzerland, against DJ Bobo to represent Switzerland, but his candidacy was too late. In 2009, he won the prize for the best reggae song at the competition organized by Reggae Europe. He has deposited to SACEM over 100 titles composed by him (music and lyrics), in French, English and Jamaican patois.

### Encounter with Jon Baker

In summer 2009, he made what he called "a crucial encounter" with the producer Jon Baker, and recorded at Geejam Studios. His album Forever, was 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 are the reggae singer Alborosie and The Jolly Boys. Moreover, he gained the confidence of Reggae Europe who partnered with Geejam Recordings for the album Forever.

### Start of tours and international invitations

At the end of 2009, he was invited to Leipzig to meet with Pionear from Germaican records  then invited by Stylordz  to 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 traveled between Jamaica and France, working on his last album Forever released in 2011.

## International Vietnam Tour

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

### 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  <small>(diffusée le 1er nov. 2005 de 18h à 19h30)</small>.

## 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)

## Other websites

- Site officiel de CharlyB
- Profil MySpace
- Reggae Europe
- ReverbNation
- Reggae France
- Hanoi News

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Charly B
- **img**: CharlyB9393.jpg
- **img capt**: Charly B - Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2010 Espagne.
- **birth name**: Charles Blanvillain
- **birth date**: 28 September 1981
- **birth place**: Rome, Italy
- **background**: solo_singer
- **genre**: Reggae
- **occupation**: Singer
- **years active**: 1999–present
- **label**: Geejam Recordings, Forward Recordings
- **associated acts**: Inout Experience, Paris
- **url**: http://www.charlyb.com www.charlyb.com