Roni Benise, born on January 10, 1965, in Kearney, Nebraska, is an American guitarist known for his unique blend of Spanish guitar and world music. Raised on a small farm near Ravenna, Nebraska, Benise began playing guitar at age eleven. He moved to Southern California in 1999 to pursue a rock career, but switched to nylon-string classical guitar after discovering flamenco music. Benise started busking on streets and playing neighborhood theaters and flea markets, quickly gaining a following with his fusion of Latin rhythms and circus-style theatrics. His 2006–2007 production Nights of Fire! aired on PBS and won an Emmy Award for its costumes. He has produced 13 CDs (12 studio, one live) and 5 DVDs, including Cuba (2007), Sentimento (2008), and Strings of Passion: A 10 Year Mosaic (2015). Benise owns Spanish Guitar Entertainment, an independent record label.
