Marcus Bonfanti(born 5 May 1983)[1]is a Britishbluessinger, songwriter and guitarist. He has released three albums and one EP, and works both as a solo musician and, since 2014, as thefrontmanfor the Britishblues rockgroupTen Years After.His most recent solo album wasShake the Walls(2013) released by Jig-Saw Music Ltd.
Marcus Bonfanti | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Marcus Bonfanti | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 5 May 1983 London,England |
| Genres | Blues,blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Various |
| Website | Official website |
Bonfanti has opened shows forRobert Cray,Chuck Berry,Shuggie Otis,Philip Sayce,Jack Bruce,Beth Hart,John Mayall,Beth RowleyandJJ Grey & Mofro.He once fronted The Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion and, at times, has worked withP. P. Arnold,Ginger Baker,Earl Thomas,Joe Louis Walker,Robbie McIntosh,Hamish Stuart,Mark Feltham,Eric BurdonandBuddy Whittington.[2]
Life and career
editBonfanti was born inLondonto an Italian father and an English mother. In his youth, Bonfanti played thetrumpetin severalbrass bands.[3]His musical tastes changed when he heardLed Zeppelin's "Black Dog"from their album,Led Zeppelin IV.[2]His mother produced an old guitar from the family'sloftand Bonfanti tried to master the instrument, encouraged by his parents who were both keen on music.[3]His younger brother is also a musician and works as a professionalbass guitarist.[4]Bonfanti worked in a kitchen to earn sufficient monies to purchase his first guitar at the age of 15.[2]By 2015, he owned around 16 guitars.[3]In his teenage years, Bonfanti had to swap between acoustic and electric guitars, depending on whether his parents were in the house.[5]One of the first albums he bought wasJoe Cocker'sWith a Little Help from My Friends.His interest in Led Zeppelin led Bonfanti backwards chronologically to the work ofWillie DixonandBlind Willie Johnson.[3]
In 2001,[5]Bonfanti first attended theLiverpool Institute for Performing Arts,[4]and found the musical environment useful in honing his skills, but ultimately the conflict between college and him later working as a professional musician, led to Bonfanti leaving the course.[3]He worked as a session musician and played solo,[2]and, in 2007, he relocated back to London, having saved money from his playing.[5]In due course Bonfanti became a songwriter, guitarist and singer, and recorded his debut album,Hard Timesin 2008.What Good Am I to You?followed in 2010, which heighten his presence and audience base, exemplified in 2012 when Bonfanti won theBritish Blues Awardsfor Best Songwriter.[6]Bonfanti acknowledged that the second album bore some elements of an American influence, in part because some of the material therein was written in the US.[4]What Good Am I to You?was listed as one of the Top 50 albums of 2010 inClassic Rock.[2]In 2011, Bonfanti played guitar onRebecca Ferguson's album,Heaven.[7]
The period immediately following the release of his second album became beset with problems. He was dropped by P3 Music who had issued his first two albums and, in trying to record another collection, was dropped by another label. Eventually, Jig-Saw Music Ltd offered him to chance to record at the Grange Studios inNorfolk.Bonfanti originally recorded all his work for his new album on an acoustic guitar.[5]He also recorded what was to become,Shake the Walls,on analogue tape rather than the modern-day digital process.[6]Shake The Wallswas released in June 2013, and again listed byClassic Rockin the Top 5 Blues Albums of the year. In addition the album got airplay onBBC Radio 2andBBC Radio 6 Music.Bonfanti won the 2013 and 2014 British Blues Awards for Best Acoustic Performer.[2]In 2013, Bonfanti supplied guitar work to theJohnny Hates Jazzalbum,Magnetized.[8]
In 2014, Bonfanti was invited to frontTen Years After,which he continues to do alongside his own solo career.[9][10]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Hard Times | P3 Music |
| 2010 | What Good Am I to You? | P3 Music |
| 2011 | Medicine Man | Self release (EP) |
| 2013 | Shake the Walls | Jig-Saw Music Ltd |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Marcus Bonfanti concert reviews, history, 2024 tour".Loudmemories.com.Retrieved13 April2024.
- ^abcdef"Biography".Marcus Bonfanti. Archived fromthe originalon 22 April 2017.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^abcde"Interview - Marcus Bonfanti".Earlyblues.com.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^abc"Marcus Bonfanti's Biography".Last.fm.1 January 1970.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^abcd"Interview: Marcus Bonfanti".Acoustic.8 January 2016.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^abRob Adams (5 July 2013)."How Bonfanti got the blues with an old guitar".Herald Scotland.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Heaven - Rebecca Ferguson - Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Magnetized - Johnny Hates Jazz: Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Marcus Bonfanti".Allaboutbluesmusic.com.14 May 2016.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Ten Years After reveal new line-up".Classic Rock.21 March 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 22 March 2014.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Marcus Bonfanti | Album Discography".AllMusic.Retrieved1 August2017.
- ^"Marcus Bonfanti Discography".Discogs.com.Retrieved1 August2017.
External links
edit- Official website
- Marcus Bonfanti online guitar course -Finding Your Own Voice in the Blues on MusicGurus.com