Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper (Claremont, California, October 28, 1969) is an American DJ and musician.
Born in California, Ben Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, R&B, and reggae. He learned to play guitar as a child and formed several bands in his teens, always influenced by names like Blues Traveler, Hootie & the Blowfish, Phish, and Taj Mahal. Ben is religious, and therefore always conveys a Christian message in his music.
His professional career as a solo artist began in 1994 with "Welcome To The Cruel World". This was followed by the release of "Fight For Your Mind" (1995), "The Will To Live" (1997), and "Burn To Shine" (1999).
A special box set titled "CD Box Collection," containing Harper's first three albums, was released in 2000, and the following year saw the release of the double live album "Live From Mars." The album was divided into an electric and a more acoustic section and features the musician's biggest hits such as "Excuse Me Mr.", "Steal My Kisses," and "Pleasure And Pain."The Inside" (2003). The album is a mix of heavy, funk and folk. Alongside him are The Innocent Criminals, formed by bassist Juan Nelson, percussionist Leon Lewis Mobley and drummer Oliver Charles. Highlights included "With My Own Two Hands", "Everything", "Amen Omen", as well as the title track itself. He is also known as Jack Johnson's godfather, as he was the one who discovered him and recommended him to a major record label. In 2007 he recorded the song "Good Luck" in partnership with Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata. In 2008, he formed the band Ben Harper & Relentless 7, and also toured in 2009 with the band Pearl Jam and in 2015, he returned to work with The Innocent Criminals.
On February 12, 2016, Harper released (as a YouTube video) the single "Call It What It Is," the first track from her studio album Call It What It Is, released on April 8, 2016.
In July 2019, Ben Harper released "Uneven Days," his first solo song since the 2016 album "Call It What It Is," released with the band Innocent Criminals. Now the hiatus is shorter, and the singer-songwriter returns from a silence of almost a year with a new single. Already available on digital platforms, "Don't Let Me Disappear," a song produced by him in partnership with Ethan Allen, represents for the musician "a fine line between loneliness, isolation, and invisibility."
After releasing a black and white music video two weeks ago, directed by Kristin Sudeikis and Gabriel Judet-Weinshel, last Friday (May 29th), Harper was invited to participate, live from his home in the United States, in the Italian TV program "Propaganda Live". On that occasion, he expressed his feelings about the George Floyd case – the 46-year-old African American who lost his life after being handcuffed and assaulted by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Harper presented his new single, "Don't Let Me Disappear". "When violence takes over, art calms spirits and harmonizes everything," that at least is the hope of someone who has dedicated his entire life to art.
On June 9, 2021, Harper's longtime bassist, collaborator, and Innocent Criminals member, Juan Nelson, passed away at the age of 62. Harper paid tribute to him, stating on Twitter: "Beloved husband, father, musical genius, 27-year BHIC band member, and the best man I ever knew. It's almost impossible for me to express this pain and loss in words. Rest in Glory, our beloved Reverend Juan." No cause of death has been confirmed.
On July 22, 2022, Harper released the album Bloodline Maintenance. The album is dedicated to the memory of Juan Nelson.
BEN HARPER - FUTPEDIAMUSIC SELECTION
Ben Harper
Futpediamusic Selection
15 Songs To Download
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