Charles Blanvillain

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

## 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
* 
* Hanoi News