Ben Harper

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons named Ben Harper, see Ben Harper (disambiguation).
Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Background information
Birth name Benjamin Charles Harper
Born October 28, 1969 (1969-10-28) (age 38)
Claremont, California,
USA
Genre(s) Rock
Folk, Blues
Gospel
Reggae
Soul rock
Soul
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, steel guitarist, guitarist
Instrument(s) Weissenborn, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Bass, Drums, Percussion
Years active 1992 — present
Label(s) Virgin/EMI Records
Associated acts Vanessa da Mata
Website benharper.net
Notable instrument(s)
weissenborn guitar

Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American musician.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Harper was born in Claremont, California, in California's Pomona Valley. He began playing guitar as a child.[1] His maternal grandparents' music store The Folk Music Center and Museum laid a foundation of folk and blues for the artist, complemented by regular patrons of Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal and David Lindley and quotes of William Shakespeare and Robert Frost made often by his grandfather [2]. As a teen in the 80's, Harper began to play the slide guitar, mimicking the style of Robert Johnson, to contrast that of the then-popular heavy metal music. Next, Harper took up the Weissenborn to provide further distinction between his style and that of other blues musicians, including Johnson's.[3] Harper broke out of the "Inland Empire" after being offered an invitation by Taj Mahal to tour with the artist. The 20 year-old Harper and the blues legend then recorded Follow the Drinking Ghour(d) and toured the fiftieth state. [4].

[edit] Career

As a young man, Harper recorded the LP Pleasure and Pain with fellow folk guitarist Tom Freund. After this limited edition record, Harper got a record deal with Virgin Records, which released his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World (1994).

This was followed by Fight For Your Mind (1995) which became a college radio favorite and generated an abundance of songs which still fill his set list to this day.

In 1999 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Harper met Jack Johnson, who was unknown at the time and had not recorded. Harper obtained a demo tape of 12 of Johnson's songs that he forwarded to his producer, J.P. Plunier, with whom Johnson recorded his first album.[5]

Ben Harper, Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
Ben Harper, Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

From early on in Harper's career, his music received more attention in Europe than it did in his home country. While he was a well-known and respected figure in the United States (his musicianship put him on the lineup of featured singers covering Motown hits by Marvin Gaye on the classic 2002 documentary, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," the story of the Funk Brothers) he was a star in countries like France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, and The Netherlands, receiving a great deal of airplay and critical acclaim. His popularity in Europe is such that he was French Rolling Stone magazine's Artist of the Year (Artiste De L'Année) in 2003, and his tour that year for Diamonds on the Inside played to packed arenas across the continent.

In October 2004, Harper participated in the Vote for Change concert tour organised to benefit Moveon.org and encourage people in the swing states to vote during the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Also in October, Harper contributed a live recording of the song "Oppression" to For The Lady, a benefit album for jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner and Burmese pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Over the summer of 2005, when the Zooma tour scheduled with Trey Anastasio and various side stage performers was canceled, Harper engaged in a tour of more private clubs/venues such as the Avalon Ballroom in Boston, the Tabernacle in Atlanta, and a full-band acoustic performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This series of concerts saw the debut of a number of new songs, such as "Get It Like You Like It" and "Dressed In Black."

In 2006, Harper released the double album Both Sides of the Gun which debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts.

Harper finished a worldwide tour in support of the album in 2006, with support from Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley on the North American leg.

Though uncredited, he appears briefly in the 2006 David Lynch film Inland Empire, alongside his wife Laura Dern.

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals recorded a new album, Lifeline, in Paris. It was released in 2007. He also covered John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" on the benefit CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

He has become a big success in Brazil and Portugal, because of his collaboration "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" with Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata, which peaked at #1 in the Brazilian top 100.

Harper is part of the No Nukes group which is against the expansion of nuclear power. In 2007 the group recorded a music video of a new version of the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth".[6][7]

[edit] Personal Life

Ben Harper is multi-ethnic. His father Leonard was of African-American and Cherokee Indian ancestry. His mother Ellen Chase-Verdries is Anglo (of Lithuanian descent)[8], [9], [10]. His parents divorced when he was five. Harper has two brothers, Joel and Peter Harper.

From 1996 to 2001, Harper was married to Joanna. They have two children, son Charles James and daughter Harris.

On December 23, 2005 Harper married his girlfriend of five years, actress Laura Dern. They have two children together, son Ellery Walker Harper (August 21, 2001) and daughter Jaya (November 24, 2004). The Rev. Paul B. Raushenbush baptized his children.

[edit] Awards and nominations

Year Award Show Award/Nomination
2003 Rolling Stone (France) Artist of the Year
2005 Grammy Award Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
2005 Grammy Award Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album

[edit] Certifications

Year Album Certification
1995 Fight for Your Mind RIAA Gold-US
1999 Burn to Shine RIAA Gold-US #67
2001 Live from Mars RIAA Gold-US #70

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Album information
Welcome to the Cruel World
Fight for Your Mind
  • Released: 1995
  • RIAA Certification: Gold
The Will to Live
Burn to Shine
Live From Mars
  • Released: 2001
  • RIAA Certification: Gold #70 U.S
Diamonds on the Inside
There Will Be a Light
Live at the Apollo
Both Sides of the Gun
Lifeline
Live At Twist & Shout

[edit] Virtual albums

  • iTunes Originals - Ben Harper

[edit] Singles

  • "Like A King / Whipping Boy" (1994)
  • "Ground on Down" (1995)
  • "Excuse Me Mr." (1996)
  • "Faded" (1997)
  • "Jah Work" (1997)
  • "Glory & Consequence" (1997)
  • "Burn to Shine" (1999)
  • "Please Bleed" (1999)
  • "Steal My Kisses" (2000)
  • "With My Own Two Hands" (2003)
  • "Diamonds on the Inside" (2004)
  • "Better Way" (2006)
  • "Morning Yearning" (2006)
  • "Fight Outta You" (2007)
  • "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" (2007) (with Vanessa da Mata) (#1 Brazil, #1 Portugal)
  • "In the Colors" (2007)
  • "Fight Outta You" (2007) (Europe)

[edit] Recent concerts

 This article or section may contain an excessive amount of information with limited interest or intricate details.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. (June 2008)
Ben Harper performing an acoustic set at the Kidapalooza stage at Lollapalooza 2007
Ben Harper performing an acoustic set at the Kidapalooza stage at Lollapalooza 2007

Voodoo Music Experience (October 26-28, 2007)

Lollapalooza Music Festival (August 3–5, 2007) - Harper and The Innocent Criminals performed as a co-headliner on August 3, at the Bud Light stage. Eddie Vedder joined them on-stage for a cover of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War". Other songs in the set included "Burn One Down" and "With My Own Two Hands". Harper also performed an unannounced acoustic set at the Kidapalooza stage and would later join Pearl Jam for a performance of an original protest song, "No More", penned by Vedder, and Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World".

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (June 14–17, 2007) - Harper and The Innocent Criminals played on the main stage at the biggest music festival in the United States. Harper played on the same stage as Ziggy Marley, whose set ended an hour before he came on. A guest appearance was made by John Paul Jones (from Led Zeppelin) to perform "Dazed and Confused" alongside Harper. Ziggy Marley also made an appearance to join Harper in singing Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up". Other songs from the set included "Burn One Down," "Steal My Kisses," "Diamonds On The Inside," "Ground On Down," and "With My Own Two Hands" and "Gold To Me." Selections from this performance are featured on the program Live from the Artists Den. The episode will air March 6, 2008 at 8 PM ET/PT on Ovation TV.

Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival Easter 2007 - Harper and the Innocent Criminals played a two hour spot to close the Annual Bluesfest. The huge crowd in and around the massive tent were treated to an awesome set featuring songs from old and new albums as well as some covers. Bonnie Raitt, John Butler, Piers Faccini and Jack Johnson made guest appearances throughout the set to perform songs with Harper and the band.

Brisbane River Stage (May 20, 2006) - Harper recently completed his final leg of the Australian tour for Both Sides Of The Gun. The concert sold out and received rave reviews. The crowd of 20,000 were treated by an appearance from Jack Johnson to perform, with Harper, a cover of Bob Marley's "High Tide or Low Tide".

In July 2006 Harper supported the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their Stadium Arcadium tour, playing dates at venues including the Madejski Stadium in Reading and Pride Park stadium, home of Derby County Football Club, Derby. He then commenced upon a Stateside tour, along with supporting artist Damian Marley. He subsequently toured Europe, including France, the nation that was one of the first to embrace his earliest musical offerings.

Greek Theatre, Berkeley, California - On August 18, 2006, Harper played for a sold-out crowd. During the height of the show, Harper brought out Carlos Santana and did a guitar solo of "Serve Your Soul". Santana stayed on stage for two more songs.

Austin City Limits Music Festival (September 15–17, 2006) - On September 17, 2006, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals played in front of an estimated 70,000 in Austin, Texas at the music festival in a late afternoon show following Damian Marley's performance on the same stage an hour earlier. Harper opened his show with a rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", a nod to Stevie Ray Vaughan's adopted hometown and a favorite local song, and Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" in a set list that also included "Burn One Down", "Steal My Kisses", "Diamonds On The Inside", and "Better Way". G. Love made a special guest appearance playing the harmonica, and the set concluded with Damian Marley and Harper playing Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up".

Live at the Garden (July 8, 2003). He sang two songs ("Daughter" and "Indifference") with Pearl Jam.

City Stages (June 14, 2008). Harper will be playing at City Stages in Birmingham, Alabama.

[edit] Special appearances

Harper played a slide guitar version of the Star-Spangled Banner prior to Game 3 of the 2007 NBA Finals on June 12 in Cleveland.

[edit] DVDs

[edit] Sound samples

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1][2]
  2. ^ "I'll Rise: The Music and Message of Ben Harper, page 5"
  3. ^ ibid, page 11
  4. ^ ibid, page 13
  5. ^ Harper takes both sides - The Honolulu Advertiser - Hawaii's Newspaper
  6. ^ “For What It’s Worth,” No Nukes Reunite After Thirty Years
  7. ^ Musicians Act to Stop New Atomic Reactors
  8. ^ http://www.swer.net/english.roots1.html
  9. ^ http://www.onewaymagazine.com/coverstory_2-897.html
  10. ^ http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,895525,00.html

[edit] External links