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 Hanoi, Vietnam, he makes a Vietnam tour (Hanoi 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, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City interview Cama Festival tele Hanoi
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 reveur
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 videos documentaires - shot in Port Antonio en Jamaica
Documentary video shot in New York nov. 2009 for the anniversary of Zulu Nation
Video 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
"Special Charly B" sur TVM3 dans l'emission TRIBBU annimee par Philippe Morax (diffusee le 1er nov. 2005 de 18h a 19h30).
Shows
Summer 2003 - Sunrise Festival of Bagnols-sur-Ceze (France)
7.1.2005 - Stadium of Sembrancher, Switzerland
10.2.2005 - The Hacienda, Chambery, 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 Seminaire - Porrentruy, Switzerland
21.9.2005 - Doors 72 - Bienne, Switzerland
18.11.2005 - Bist'rock cafe, Geneva, Switzerland
25.1.2006 - L'auberge du tele - Contamines, Montjoie, France
7.1.2006 - Gaskessel - La Coupole - Bienne, Switzerland
25.1.2006 - Contamines Montjoie, France
18.2.2006 - Alte Kaserne, Zurich, 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 Schutzi - 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 Cafe, Logras, Rhone Alpes, France
24.3.2007 Stand up festival, Buhlhalle, Switzerland
20.4.2007 Kbar Geneva, Switzerland
26.4.2007 Zelig, Dorigny, Lausanne, Switzerland
27.4.2007 Le matin Bleu, Geneva, Switzerland
Mai 2007: Concert au cours du Spectacle annuel des Ateliers du Funambule au theatre de Terre-Sainte a 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 a 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 Hanoi 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
French singers
1981 births
Living people
Reggae musicians
Entertainers from Rome