Jean-Pierre Danel


Jean-Pierre Danel is a French guitarist, record producer, music writer and songwriter. Danel has recorded a large number of guitar albums, as well as guitar teaching materials. In 2006, his album Guitar Connection was certified Gold in France.

Biography

1980s to 1990s

Born in La Varenne, France, Danel, the son of the French pop singer Pascal Danel and the nephew of opera director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, started his career as a professional guitarist in July 1982, at the age of 14. After many tours and studio recordings with French session musicians, he released various guitar albums.

''Stratospheric'' (2000)

In 2001, he was invited to play on the album Les Masters de la Guitare, to which Eric Clapton, BB King, Carlos Santana or Al Di Meola also contributed.

''Guitar Connection'' (2006)

Danel's album Guitar Connection was released by Sony/BMG in July 2006. It was certified Gold and soon became a series of albums, with Guitar Connection 2 released in March 2007. It contains a duet with British guitar legend Hank Marvin. In June 2007, Danel received the Grand Prix Français de la Guitare award. One of Danel's songs from Guitar Connection 3, "The Pink Side of Miss Daisy", reached number 8 on the Billboard French Digital Songs chart in 2008.

''Out of the Blues'' (2010)

In November 2010, Danel's Out of the Blues guitar album was released by Universal, with sales going towards AIDS research. Danel recorded duets with a number of guitarists such as Hank Marvin again, Albert Lee, Scott Henderson, Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, Jake Shimabukuro and various popular French artists. The album was supported by Carla Bruni, then First Lady of France, and Brian May of Queen, who also wrote a note in the booklet. The pair was reunited in a charity organized by Danel in 2013.

''The Hit List'' (2013)

Danel's digital compilation album The Hit List debuted on the French compilation albums chart at number 18.

''Guitar Tribute'' (2016)

On 25 March 2016, Danel released Guitar Tribute, a box set containing 2 CDs and the DVD of a private live show, All You Need Is Live, given for his daughter. Half of the concert consisted of Danel's hits, with two new songs, while the other half is a collection of covers of classics that influenced the guitar player. Half of the tunes are vocal. Several duets are included, as well as video tributes to Danel by Brian May of Queen, Hank Marvin of The Shadows, several French artists and Sony Music and Warner Music CEOs Danel embarked on a promotional tour, with a primetime TV show, several other TV appearances and TV advertising. The album entered the compilation albums chart at number 7.
In February 2017, "Shazam" from Génération Guitare entered the French singles chart at number 186.

Puzzle Productions

As a record producer, Danel started his own company, Puzzle Productions, in 1989. He produced dozens of hit records and also bought the rights for many songs from other companies, creating an 18,000-song catalogue. In several TV documentaries, record industry specialists called Danel one of the biggest independent producers in France.
His work also includes the production, with DJ Da French Guy, of radio remixes for artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Daft Punk, and Moby.

Books

Danel is the author of several books, the best known of which are biographies of French playwright and actor Sacha Guitry. His second book about Guitry is featured on the book list for French students at Berkeley University, CA. Danel also published a book about the Fender Stratocaster. In 2014, he released the video "The Fender Stratocaster Story", based on the book and on his vast collection of guitars, in which can be found "Miss Daisy", a scarce 1954 pre-production Stratocaster, worth US$250,000.

Charities

Danel produced records to the benefit of various charities. Also a vegetarian and animal lover, Danel launched "Guitar Players for Animal Rights" to the benefit of PETA, and was joined by fellow guitarists Brian May, Steve Lukather, Hank Marvin as well as French stars such as singer and composer/producer for Celine Dion Jean-Jacques Goldman or French movie star Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearSingleAlbum
2006"A Love Theme for Sabine"Guitar Connection
2006"Sleepwalk"Guitar Connection
2006"Ballad for a Friend"Guitar Connection
2007"NZ Girl Blues"Guitar Connection 2
2007"My Song of You" Guitar Connection 2
2007"Guitar Connection Medley "Guitar Connection 2
2007"Nivram" Guitar Connection 2
2008"The Pink Side of Miss Daisy"Guitar Connection 3
2008"Honky Tonk Woman"Guitar Connection 3
2009"The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt"Guitar Connection – Tribute to The Shadows
2009"Good Guitar Vibrations"The Best of Guitar Connection
2009"Come together"The Best of Guitar Connection
2009"Concerto de aranjuez"Jean-Pierre Danel plays The Shadows
2009"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Guitar Connection Anthology
2010"Out of the Blues"Out of the Blues
2010"Rock Me Baby" Out of the Blues
2011"This Incredible Fortune to Be Two" Out of the Blues
2011"Forbidden Games"Guitar Guitar Guitar
2012"M Appeal" Out of the Blues
2012"Saint Louis Blues"Out of the Blues
2012"Tulsa Time" Out of the Blues
2012"United Colors" Out of the Blues
2012"Revolution" Out of the Blues
2013"Nivram EP 2013" The Hit List
2013"Europa"Guitar Connection
2013"The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt"The Hit List
2014"Knocking on Heaven's Door"Guitar Connection 3
2014"All Shook Up"The Hit List
2015"Medley Guitar Connection Part 1"The Hit List
2015"Medley Guitar Connection Part 2"The Hit List
2015"My Song of You" The Hit List

Discography (France and international)

Albums

English