Jean-Pierre Danel (born 4 June 1968) is a French guitarist, record producer, music writer, and songwriter. Jean-Pierre Danel has recorded a large number of guitar albums as well as guitar teaching materials. In 2006, his album Guitar Connection, released by Sony BMG, was certified gold in France, followed by several other records certified gold or platinum.

Biography

1980s to 1990s

Born in La Varenne, Val-de-Marne, France, Jean-Pierre Danel is son of the French pop singer Pascal Danel and the nephew of opera director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. Danel 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, Danel was invited to play on the album Les Masters de la Guitare, to which Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Carlos Santana, and Al Di Meola also contributed.

Guitar Connection (2006)

Danel's album Guitar Connection was released by Sony/BMG in July 2006 and reached the number one spot in the charts in France, followed by several other records certified gold or platinum. Guitar Connection was certified gold and soon became a series of hit albums, with Guitar Connection 2 released in March 2007. Guitar Connection 2 contains a duet with British guitarist Hank Marvin. Danel also recorded many duets with French stars Laurent Voulzy, Louis Bertignac, Axel Bauer, Michael Jones, and Paul Personne, among others. In June 2007, Danel received the Grand Prix Français de la Guitare Award.

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, Albert Lee (recorded at the Abbey Road Studios), 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 album was certified Gold, and the DVD earned a Platinum disc.

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 (Sony Music), a box set containing 2 CDs (a compilation and a live album) and the DVD of a private live show, All You Need Is Live, which he dedicated to his daughter. Half of the concert consisted of Danel's hits, with two new songs, while the other half was a collection of covers of classics that influenced the guitar player (e.g. The Beatles, The Shadows, Elvis Presley, etc.). Half of the tunes are vocal and 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. To promote his work, Danel embarked on a promotional tour, with a primetime TV show, several other TV appearances, and TV advertising. Guitar Tribute entered the compilation albums chart at number 7 and the DVD All You Need is Live became certified double platinum. In 2017, after Génération Guitare: a double album with guitarist Jean-Félix Lalanne, Sony Music released an anthology featuring a 10-CD box set called Guitar Player, which includes 214 of Danel's recordings, selected from his various albums. In 2019, a rose was named after him. In 2020, a documentary was announced and a biography was published. His album Côté Jazz reached the top of the Jazz Albums Chart in France.

Guitar Story (2020) and Guitar Safari (2022)

In 2021, he released the TV special Guitar Story on DVD. His album and DVD Hats Off to the Boys was then released in several countries. His DVD Guitar Video Connection, celebrating 40 years of his career, was released in 2022, and a triple album, Guitar Safari, was released at the same time. To celebrate 40 years of recording, a new album, a best-of album, and a live album were also released. During the spring of 2024, Danel releases his new single, Spicy Marie. This was considered a new approach for him, one where his rock guitar meets a dance production. The track went on to reach number eight on the national club charts.

Puzzle Productions

As a record producer, Danel started his own company, Puzzle Productions, in 1989. Through it, 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, alongside DJ Da French Guy, of radio remixes for artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Daft Punk, and Moby. In 2014, he received a multi-diamond disc for 25 years as a record producer at Sony Music headquarters, 23.3 million records sold, and 191 gold and platinum discs received as a producer. Ten years later, in 2024, he received another multi-diamond record for 35 years as a producer, 26.2 million records sold, and 207 certified gold and platinum discs.

Writer

Danel is also 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. In 2023, he published a biography of French theater star Sarah Bernhardt. Danel also published a book in 2012 about the Fender Stratocaster (foreword by Hank Marvin). 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, including Amnesty International and for AIDS. 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 (of Queen), Steve Lukather (of Toto), Hank Marvin (of The Shadows), as well as French stars such as singer and composer/producer for Celine Dion, Jean-Jacques Goldman, and French movie star Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Discography

Albums

Charting albums Full list

Participation

Books