Review: Timmion and Daptone 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 - notably Sonny Powell and the Night Dreamers. 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), these eleven originals were all penned by Benavidez. From the uplifting bounce of the title track; the doo-wop dinged 'Dedicated to You'; the Latin flare of 'Uncle Sam' and the Sweet Soul masterpiece 'Somebody Cares'; My Echo, Shadow and Me is not only an aweinspiring 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.
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