Benise
Roni Benise, is an American guitarist who describes his style as "Spanish guitar" or "nouveau flamenco."
After growing up on a small farm near Ravenna, Nebraska, Benise moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue rock stardom. After hearing flamenco music on the radio, he switched from electric guitar to nylon-stringed classical guitar.
He began busking on the street and playing neighborhood theaters and flea markets. From these performances, he quickly established a following. Benise came up with an act that married Latin rhythms to a circus atmosphere. He fuses world music (specifically, strongly Latin-flavored styles such as flamenco, salsa, tango, and samba underscored by African tribal rhythms) with rock, to create a sound that appeals to mainstream music fans and aficionados of world music.
The mixture caught the attention of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and led to his 2006-2007 Nights of Fire! production that has aired on many PBS-affiliated stations, and won an Emmy Award. The show is a blend of theater and music, drawing from Spanish flamenco, Argentine tango, and Brazilian samba.
To date, Benise has produced 13 CDs (12 studio, one live) and 5 DVDs. He owns an independent record label, Spanish Guitar Entertainment.
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