Roni 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. The self-taught guitarist started playing at age eleven, and got into local bands as