Combining shuddering, groove-laden funky soul and folky handcrafted
acoustics, singer/songwriter
Ben Harper had cult status during the course of the '90s but gained wider
attention toward the end of the decade.
Ben Harper combined elements of classic singer/songwriters, blues revivalists,
Jimi Hendrix, and '90s jam bands like
Blues Traveler,
Hootie & the Blowfish, and
Phish, which meant that he was embraced by critics and college kids alike.
Though he never had a hit album, his body of work sold consistently and he
toured constantly, building a solid, dedicated fan base. Â
A native of California,
Ben Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, R&B, and reggae. As a child,
he started playing guitar, and began to perform regularly as a preteen. During
his adolescence, he turned toward acoustic slide guitar, which would eventually
become his signature instrument. After steady gigging in the Los Angeles area,
Ben Harper scored a deal with Virgin Records in 1992. He released his debut
album, Welcome to the Cruel World, two years later to positive reviews.
Released in 1995, the politically heavy Fight for Your Mind made for a strong
sophomore effort, an obvious growth in musical experimentation and individual
declamation.
Ben Harper's third album, 1997's The Will to Live, pushed his blues-oriented
alternative folk into the middle mainstream, becoming a mainstay at college
radio and making inroads at adult alternative radio. Recorded over two years of
touring in support of Fight for Your Mind, The Will to Live introduced
the Innocent Criminals,
Ben Harper's supporting band.
The Innocent Criminals -- bassist Juan Nelson, drummer Dean Butterworth, and
percussionist David Leach -- solidified
Ben Harper's musical rhythms and emotional diversity.
Aside from working on his own material,
Ben Harper has built a strong rapport with other artists, playing guest spots on
records by
Beth Orton,
John Lee Hooker, and
Gov't Mule. He played the 1997 and 1999 Tibetan Freedom Concerts, and opened
for
R.E.M.,
Radiohead,
Metallica,
Pearl Jam, and
the Fugees.
Ben Harper's career gained momentum during 1998-1999. His most successful album
to date, 1999's Burn to Shine blended
Ben Harper's fondness of '20s jazz compositions and urban beatboxing, resulting
in a clever and passionate collection of songs. "Steal My Kisses" and "Suzie
Blue" were radio favorites, landing him two headlining world tours and an
opening spot on
the Dave Matthews Band's summer trek of 2000. In spring 2001,
Ben Harper issued Live from Mars, a double disc of live electric and acoustic
material spanning the previous year's tour and including covers of material by
Led Zeppelin,
the Verve, and
Marvin Gaye.
When it came to recording his fifth studio effort,
Ben Harper went back to his drawing board. He'd circled the world countless
times and, naturally, he brashly sang about it on the worldbeat-inspired
Diamonds on the Inside, which appeared in March 2003. After a European tour with
the Blind Boys of Alabama in 2004, the two acts entered the studio together
and laid down ten tracks in two different sessions at Capitol Records' basement
studios. The resulting collaborative album (issued under the names of both
Ben Harper and
the Blind Boys of Alabama), There WiIl Be a Light, was released in September
of 2004. The CD/DVD set Live at the Apollo followed in fall 2005. The double
album Both Sides of the Gun appeared in March 2006 and reached number seven on
the Billboard album charts. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
Contact Grabow for more information or to book
Ben Harper for your next corporate or private event.
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