Eric Benét

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Eric Benét Jordan
Born October 15, 1966 (1966-10-15) (age 41)
Origin Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Genre(s) Pop, R&B, Neo Soul
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter
Years active 1994 – present
Label(s) Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts Tamia
Website www.ericbenet.net

Eric Benét Jordan (born October 15, 1966 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a Grammy-nominated platinum-selling American R&B and Neo-soul singer. His duet with Tamia, "Spend My Life With You", was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000. From 2001 to 2005, he was married to actress Halle Berry.

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[edit] Biography

Benét was born Eric Benét Jordan in 1966, Benét being his mother's maiden name. He was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is the youngest of five siblings.

Benét's father loved classical music and inspired an interest in music in his son. He sang with a Top 40-style group called Gerard in the late 1980s, and then Benét, his sister, Lisa, and his cousin, George Nash Jr., formed a band called Benét and released a self-titled album in 1992 but only sold 70,000 copies.

Benét's career-building, however, was interrupted by a series of personal tragedies. His father died of cancer, and his girlfriend, Tami Marie Stauff, the mother of Benét's daughter, India, born in 1991, died of injuries suffered in an automobile crash (April 24, 1993) after languishing in a coma for five days. Benét endured a long period of personal and creative depression, often feeling that only his responsibilities as a father kept him going. He took a job with United Parcel Service in Milwaukee and eased back into music by producing demo recordings for local artists.

In 1994, Benét signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his solo debut album, True to Myself, in fall (1996). Individual songs from the album were successful, including the top-ten R&B hit "Spiritual Thang" and "Let's Stay Together," which appeared on the soundtrack of the film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

His next album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999; its first single, "Georgy Porgy (featuring Faith Evans)" received significant airplay, but the second single, "Spend My Life With You (featuring Tamia)", became a smash hit. "Spend My Life With You" rose to number one on the American R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The album, A Day In The Life also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male.

Benét also recorded for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD. He contributed vocals to the post-Katrina charity single, "Heart of America" along with Michael McDonald, Wynonna Judd, and Terry Dexter. He has also lended vocals to many jazz albums for such artists as Wayman Tisdale, George Duke, Chris Botti, Jeff Lorber, Boney James, etc.

Benét has also been active as an actor; he had a recurring role on the television program For Your Love (1998 - 2002). He made his film debut alongside Mariah Carey in Glitter (2001). He has a recurring role on the MTV scripted show "Kaya" (2007) where he plays a music producer.

He is currently recording his fourth album entitled Love & Life which set for release in September 2008 as confirmed on his myspace.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US R&B/Hip-Hop
1996 "Let's Stay Together" #45 True To Myself
1996 "Spiritual Thang" #41 True To Myself
1997 "Femininity" #24 True To Myself
1997 "True To Myself" #43 True To Myself
1999 "Georgy Porgy" #15 A Day In The Life
1999 "Spend My Life With You" (featuring Tamia) #1 A Day In The Life
2000 "When You Think Of Me" #46 A Day In The Life
2001 "Love Don't Love Me" #38 The Brothers (Soundtrack)
2005 "I Wanna Be Loved" #2 Hurricane
2005 "Hurricane" #1 Hurricane
2006 "Where Does The Love Go" (with Yvonne Catterfeld) - Hurricane
2006 "Pretty Baby" #1 Hurricane
2008 "You're the Only One" - Love & Life

[edit] Resources

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Jordan, Eric Benét
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Eric Benét
SHORT DESCRIPTION American singer
DATE OF BIRTH October 15, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH