Black Pearl

BLACK PEARL is a brand new contemporary rock-blues project featuring London based, Detroit vocalist/guitarist Marcus Malone, former Wishbone Ash guitarist and arranger Muddy Manninen and songwriter Pete Feenstra.

Originally conceived as a possible song writing project between Muddy and Pete, the former Motown signing Marcus Malone quickly came on board to add his unique vocal phrasing to a project that spans rock, blues, Americana and Latino.

“As Muddy explains: "I had just completed my River Flows” album and then we had to lock down. I was talking to Pete about some song ideas, but I wanted someone else to sing them.”  

Enter Marcus Malone. That connection quickly blossomed into an EP idea and subsequently a catalogue of songs.

As Pete adds: “The idea was to tap into honest emotions and thematic narratives,  with an open ended musical approach. It took us to places we hadn’t imagined.”

Helsinki born, UK based Muddy Manninen was the songwriter and guitarist for Wishbone Ash for 4 albums over 13 years.  He wrote much of their ‘Blue Horizon’ album, widely regarded as their best for years.

He also enjoyed a prolific career in Europe with bands such as Gringos Locos with who he cut the ‘Punch Drunk’ album, produced by the legendary Tom Dowd.

He became a solo artist in 2017 and has cut 2 albums while continuing to work with saxophonist Patsy Gamble

Detroit born Marcus Malone learnt his craft opening for the likes of Bob Seger and Iggy Pop, before being coveted by Motown records.

He was relocated to LA by Ike Turner’s management and the result was the all star ‘Marcus’ album, still available on Rock Candy records.

Since moving to Europe, he opened for BB King at the Albert Hall, has cut 7 solo albums and has enjoyed both IBBA and Dutch Hit Tracks success with the Malone Sibun album ‘Come Together’.

Pete Feenstra is an award winning blues promoter, blues-rock DJ and songwriter. He has written songs for Blue Commotion, Croatia’s Ivana Gallic, Voodoo Ramble, Boris Zamba (European Blues Challenge winner) The Sharpeez, Marcus Flynn (Beyonce/Mike & The Mechanics) and Zed Mitchell, with who he topped the German Roots rock charts.