Calvin Bennion (Firsteye Music)

Calvin Bennion was raised on Rayners Lane Estate in North West London, UK, surrounded by reggae music in a home curated by his father, a dedicated reggae music enthusiast and record collector. Growing up, Calvin had the privilege of attending numerous reggae shows, witnessing performances by legendary artists such as Abbysinians, Dennis Brown, Culture, Steel Pulse, and Ziggy and the Melody Makers. Fast forward almost 40 years and Calvin has evolved into a versatile Reggae Musician, Engineer, and Producer, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the reggae music scene. His musical journey commenced at the age of 14, when he began DJ'ing at local events, gradually gaining recognition in the House and Garage music scene. During his teenage years, Calvin rediscovered his love for reggae music, delving into vinyl collection and music production. By 18, he pursued formal education in Music Technology, earning his degree as a specialist in music technology by 2013. In 2008, Calvin joined the Subajah Family as a producer and keyboard player, establishing a lasting partnership with Subajah through live performances. By 2012, he became a resident keyboardist with Vibes and Pressure, supporting various UK artists in monthly events in London. Calvin further expanded his musical horizons when joind the band Natty the Rebelship in 2013, which led to extensively touring across the UK, India, Africa, the USA, and Europe. Despite his background as a sound engineer, Calvin focused on his role as a session keyboard player, collaborating with renowned international reggae artists like Max Romeo, Yellow Man, The Wailers, Luciano, and many others. In 2014, Calvin journeyed to Jamaica for six months at the invitation of Max Romeo to work on the debut album for his children, Xana and Azzizi Romeo, fulfilling roles as a producer, engineer, and musician. Subsequently, in 2016, he became the front of house engineer for Max Romeo's family, embarking on tours and contributing to various projects with Max Romeo. Over the years, Calvin has actively participated in numerous album productions as a producer, recording engineer, and musician, collaborating with a diverse range of local and international artists and producers such as Lee Scratch Perry, The Gladiators, Subajah, Teshay Makeda, and more. Currently, Calvin is engaged in a new project with Artist Bongo Kanny, marking his debut project driven by his musical direction. As he continues his journey as a musician, keyboard player, and FOH Sound and Mixing Engineer, be sure to watch out for his upcoming endeavors in the music industry