In collaboration with Timmion Records, Daptone is proud to present My Echo, Shadow and Me, the debut album from the soulful Chicano brother, Jonny Benavidez. Hailing from San Diego (via El Paso, TX), Jonny's desire to sing was influenced by his grandfather, John Lorenzo Guzman, who as a teen in the early sixties spent some time harmonizing with groups in El Paso–most notably Sonny Powell and the Night Dreamers. When he was 13, Jonny was given a record player and a box filled with R&B, Doo-Wop, and Soul 45s that he studied obsessively, employing the harmonies and melodies therein to cultivate his own unique voice. After a chance encounter with the legendary Dimas Garza, Jonny's career began to blossom and soon he would find himself singing alongside stars like Eugene Pitt and Archie Bell–garnering the interest of Timmion Records. Backed by the incomparable Cold Diamond & Mink (Bobby Oroza, Pratt & Moody) two incredibly successful singles were cut and plans for a full length were struck, culminating in 11 original songs penned by Benavidez. From the uplifting bounce of the title track, the doo-wop tinged "Dedicated to You", the Latin flare of Uncle Sam, to the Sweet Soul masterpiece "Somebody Cares'' (licensed by Penrose Records), My Echo, Shadow and Me is not only an awe-inspiring display of Jonny's versatility as an artist but also serves as a window into the eclectic array of soulful sounds that inspired him to fall in love with music and become a singer. A must have for fans of Daptone, Timmion, Penrose, et al.
