Ben Harper

For other people named Ben Harper, see Ben Harper (disambiguation).
Ben Harper
Background information
Birth name Benjamin Chase Harper
Born October 28, 1969 (1969-10-28) (age 42)
Claremont, California
United States
Genres Folk rock, blues rock, alternative rock, soul, funk rock, gospel, reggae, jam rock, neofolk
Occupations Musician, Singer-songwriter, Humanitarian
Instruments Vocals, electric guitar, lap steel guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, piano, bass guitar, drums, percussion, vibes
Years active 1992–present
Labels Virgin, EMI Records
Associated acts Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama
Relentless7
Vanessa da Mata
Ringo Starr
Fistful of Mercy
Website www.benharper.com
Notable instruments
Weissenborn lap steel guitar

Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music[1] and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism.[2] Harper's fan base spans several continents.[3] His albums have been commercially successful in North America, Europe and Oceania. Harper is a two-time Grammy Award winner as well, winning awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, in 2005.

Contents

Early life

Harper was born in Claremont, in California's Inland Empire. His father, Leonard, was of African-American and Cherokee ancestry, and his mother, Ellen Chase-Verdries, is Jewish. His maternal great-grandmother was a Russian-Lithuanian Jew.[4][5][6] His parents divorced when he was age five, and he grew up with his mother's family. Harper has two brothers, Joel and Peter.

Harper began playing guitar as a child.[7][8] 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 Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal and David Lindley and quotes of William Shakespeare and Robert Frost made often by his grandfather.[9] At the age of 12, Harper played his first gig.[10] During the '80s, in his teen years, Harper began to play the slide guitar, mimicking the style of Robert Johnson. Next, Harper refined his style, taking up the Weissenborn slide guitar.[11] Harper broke out of the Inland Empire after being offered an invitation by Taj Mahal to tour with the artist. They recorded Taj Mahal's album Follow the Drinking Gourd, released in November 1990, and toured Hawaii.[12]

Career

In 1992 Harper recorded the LP Pleasure and Pain with Folk multi-instrumentalist Tom Freund. After this limited edition record, Harper secured a record deal with Virgin Records, which released his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World in 1994. This was followed by Fight For Your Mind in 1995, which became a college radio favorite and included several songs that Harper still plays live regularly. His 1997 album The Will to Live was the first to feature his backup band the Innocent Criminals.[13]

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 twelve of Johnson's songs that he forwarded to his producer, J.P. Plunier, with whom Johnson recorded his first album.[14]

Early in Harper's career, his music received more attention in Europe and was widely played in Australia (first on Triple J radio). Harper has made comments on a number of occasions that his career was kicked off in Australia. While he was a well-known and respected figure in the United States, he was a star in countries like Australia, New Zealand, 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,[15] and his Australian tour that year for Diamonds on the Inside was highly successful.

In 2002, Harper was one of the featured singers covering Motown hits by Marvin Gaye in the documentary, Standing in the Shadows of Motown (a history of The Funk Brothers). In October 2004, Harper participated in the Vote for Change concert tour organized to benefit Moveon.org and encourage people in the swing states to vote during the 2004 U.S. presidential election. In the same month, 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. In 2006, Harper released the double album Both Sides of the Gun which debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts. Though uncredited, he appears briefly in the 2006 David Lynch film Inland Empire, alongside his wife Laura Dern.

After several albums without the Innocent Criminals, Harper reconvened that band for the 2007 album, Lifeline, which was recorded in Paris. Harper also covered John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" on the benefit CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. 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".[16][17] Harper's collaboration "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" with Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata peaked at #1 in Brazil and Portugal. In Brazil it also won a highly coveted Prêmio Multishow for "Best Song" in 2008. Also in 2008, Harper participated in the benefit album Songs for Tibet.

While recording Both Sides of the Gun in 2005, Harper met the members who would eventually form his new band, Relentless7, with Texas-based musicians Jason Mozersky (guitar), Jesse Ingalls (bass) and Jordan Richardson (drums).[18] The album White Lies for Dark Times, credited to Ben Harper and Relentless7, was released on May 4, 2009. On July 12, 2009, the band performed the closing concert of the 30th Montreal International Jazz Fest. On January 13, 2010, Harper and Relentless7 appeared on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart together with Ringo Starr to perform "Walk With You" and "With a Little Help from My Friends".[19] On January 22, 2010, Harper appeared on the last episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien with Beck and Billy Gibbons playing a Will Ferrell-led rendition of "Freebird".[20]

On August 27, 2010, it was reported that Ben Harper had formed a band called Fistful of Mercy with Dhani Harrison and Joseph Arthur.[21] Fistful of Mercy released their debut record, As I Call You Down, on October 5, 2010.[22]

On May 17, 2011, Ben Harper's official site posted that his next album was released, entitled Give Till It's Gone. The album is a continuation of recording with Relentless7.[23]

Personal life

Family

In 1996, Harper married his first wife, Joanna. They had two children, a son and daughter, Charles Joseph and Harris.[24]

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

On October 8, 2010, Harper, having been married for five years, filed for divorce from Dern, citing irreconcilable differences. He is seeking joint custody of their two children, as well as asking for a denial of spousal support for Dern.[25]

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

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[26]		 AUS
[27]		 SWI
[28]		 FRA
[29]		 NZ
[30]		 ITA
[31]		 POR
[32]
Pleasure and Pain
  • Album by Ben Harper and Tom Freund
  • Released: March 15, 1992
  • Label: Cardas Records
 — — — — — — — —
Welcome to the Cruel World
  • Album by Ben Harper
  • Released: February 8, 1994
  • Label: Virgin Records
 — 94 — 11 — — —
Fight for Your Mind
  • Album by Ben Harper
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Virgin Records
 — 34 — 39 7 — —
The Will to Live
  • Album by Ben Harper
  • Released: June 17, 1997
  • Label: Virgin Records
 89 17 — 4 1 — —
Burn to Shine
  • Album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
  • Released: September 21, 1999
  • Label: Virgin Records
 67 2 34 2 5 — —
Diamonds on the Inside
  • Album by Ben Harper
  • Released: March 11, 2003
  • Label: Virgin Records
 19 2 3 2 2 1 10
There Will Be a Light 81 6 3 1 7 1 7
Both Sides of the Gun
  • Album by Ben Harper
  • March 21, 2006
  • Label: Virgin Records
 7 1 4 2 1 1 3
Lifeline
  • Album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
  • Released: August 28, 2007
  • Label: Virgin Records
 9 7 1 1 6 1 5
White Lies for Dark Times
  • Album by Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Released: May 5, 2009
  • Label: Virgin Records
 9 17 7 6 11 7 23
Give Till It's Gone
  • Album by Ben Harper
  • Released: May 17, 2011
  • Label: Virgin Records
 15 9 6 3 13 2[59] 25

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[26]		 AUS
[27]		 SWI
[28]		 FRA
[29]		 NZ
[30]		 ITA
[31]		 POR
[32]
Live from Mars
  • Album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Virgin Records
 70 2 29 3 3 12 —
Live at the Apollo
  • Album by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama
  • Released: March 14, 2005
  • Label: Virgin Records
 — — 96 39 — — — —
Live at Twist & Shout
  • Album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
  • Released: December 4, 2007
  • Label: Virgin Records
 — — — — — — — —
Live from the Montreal International Jazz Festival
  • Album by Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Released: March 9, 2010
  • Label: Virgin Records
 151 — — 57 — — 19 —

Other albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[63]		 FRA
[64]
As I Call You Down 50 154

Virtual albums

Singles

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. Harper performed alongside Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and John Paul Jones at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2007. He also appears on the 2003 Pearl Jam DVD Live at the Garden where Harper plays alongside friends Pearl Jam for the songs "Daughter" & "Indifference".

Harper performed at several "Vote Obama" rallies and on the Willie Nelson show Outlaws & Angels. Harper teamed with the Skatalites to perform Fats Domino's "Be My Guest" on Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino. Harper was featured, alongside Jack Johnson, playing slide guitar with Toots and the Maytals, performing their 1970s reggae hit "Pressure Drop" on Saturday Night Live.

In January 2010, Harper and his band Relentless7 performed at the Grammy Museum with Ringo Starr in support of The Beatles drummer's self-produced album, Y Not.[67] In early 2010, Harper also performed "Ohio" at the MusiCares tribute to Neil Young. [68]

Filmography

DVDs

References

  1. ^ Ben Harper Explores Rock With Relentless7
  2. ^ Interview regarding touring and activisim.
  3. ^ Celebrity Gossip Bio
  4. ^ Ben Harper | Roots | Part one
  5. ^ Ben Harper - Every Facet Of The Diamond
  6. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (February 14, 2003). "Blood in the tracks". The Guardian (London). http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,895525,00.html. Retrieved April 26, 2010. 
  7. ^ "Ben Harper | Roots | Part one". Swer.net. http://www.swer.net/english.roots1.html. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  8. ^ "Celebrity Jews | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California". Jewishsf.com. 2005-02-11. http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/24975/edition_id/488/format/html/displaystory.html. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  9. ^ Appleford, Steve. "I'll Rise: The Music and Message of Ben Harper" Page 5. Essay published in the Ben Harper CD Box Collection. Released April 4, 2000.
  10. ^ Ben Harper Ask Men Interview
  11. ^ ibid, page 11
  12. ^ ibid, page 13
  13. ^ Ben Harper Billboard Biography
  14. ^ Harper takes both sides - The Honolulu Advertiser - Hawaii's Newspaper
  15. ^ Ben Harper Biography
  16. ^ "For What It's Worth," No Nukes Reunite After Thirty Years
  17. ^ Musicians Act to Stop New Atomic Reactors
  18. ^ Relentless7 Biography
  19. ^ "Ringo Starr - With a Little Help From My Friends - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 01/13/10 - Video Clip | Comedy Central". Thedailyshow.com. 2010-01-13. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-13-2010/ringo-starr---with-a-little-help-from-my-friends. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  20. ^ By Daniel Kreps (2010-01-23). "Conan O'Brien Recruits Will Ferrell, Beck for Final Episode Free Bird | Music News". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/01/23/conan-obrien-recruits-will-ferrell-beck-for-final-episode-free-bird/. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  21. ^ "George Harrison's son, Ben Harper form a band". CNN. August 27, 2010. http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/27/george.harrison.ben.harper.roll/index.html. 
  22. ^ "Consequence of Sound". Consequence of Sound. http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/08/27/fistful-of-mercy-make-live-debut-recorded-debut-to-soon-follow/. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  23. ^ "Give Till It's Gone | The Official Ben Harper Website". Benharper.com. 2011-05-17. http://www.benharper.com/music/albums/give-till-its-gone. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  24. ^ Ben Harper People Bio
  25. ^ « Ben Harper and Laura Dern Irreconcilable Differences? », peoplestar.co.uk, Retrieved on 2010-10-18.
  26. ^ a b "Ben Harper - Chart History". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/ben-harper/chart-history/68121. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  27. ^ a b "Ben Harper Discography". australian-charts.com. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ben+Harper. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  28. ^ a b "Suche nach: Ben Harper" (in German). HitParade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=ben+harper&cat=a. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  29. ^ a b "Discographie Ben Harper" (in French). lescharts.com. http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ben+Harper. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  30. ^ a b "Ben Harper Discography". charts.org.nz. http://charts.org.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ben+Harper. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  31. ^ a b "Search for: ben harper". italiancharts.com. http://italiancharts.com/search.asp?search=ben+harper&cat=a. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  32. ^ a b "Ben Harper Discography". portuguesecharts.com. http://portuguesecharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ben+Harper. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  33. ^ a b "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1999 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-1999.htm. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  34. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification – June 2001". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/gold/0601_g.php. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  35. ^ "Certifications Albums Platine - année 2000" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2000&type=12. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  36. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification – April 2007". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/gold/0407_g.php. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  37. ^ "Certifications Albums Or - année 1996" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1996&type=8. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  38. ^ "Certifications Albums Platine - année 1999" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1999&type=12. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2000 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2000.htm. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  40. ^ "Certifications Albums Platine - année 2002" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2002&type=12. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  41. ^ "Top 50 albums - Chart #1226 - Sunday 10 September 2000". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?ChartKind=A&ChartNum=1226. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  42. ^ a b "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2003 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2003.htm. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  43. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification – June 2003". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/gold/0603_g.php. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  44. ^ "Certifications Albums Platine - année 2004" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2004&type=12. Retrieved 6 May 2011. 
  45. ^ Giuseppe Palazzolo (3 June 2003). "Parco Nord, fermata grande rock" (in Italian). la Repubblica (Bologna). http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/06/03/parco-nord-fermata-grande-rock.html. Retrieved 6 May 2011. 
  46. ^ "Top 30 Artistas - Semana 15 de 2003" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. http://www.afp.org.pt/top.php?qano=2003&top=topalbuns&sem=15. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
  47. ^ a b "Edelmetall 2003" (in German). HitParade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/awards.asp?year=2003. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  48. ^ "Top 50 albums - Sunday 1 February 2004". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?ChartNum=1392&ChartKind=A. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  49. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2004.htm. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  50. ^ "Certifications Albums Double Or - année 2005" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2005&type=11. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  51. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2006 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  52. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification – September 2006". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/gold/0906_g.php. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  53. ^ "Certifications Albums Platine - année 2006" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2006&type=12. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  54. ^ "Edelmetall 2006" (in German). HitParade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/awards.asp?year=2006. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  55. ^ "Top 50 albums - Chart #1523 - Sunday 31 July 2006". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?ChartKind=A&ChartNum=1523. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  56. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Albums". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2007Albums.htm. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  57. ^ "Certifications Albums Platine - année 2008" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2008&type=12. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  58. ^ "Certifications Albums Or - année 2009" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2009&type=8. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  59. ^ "Classifica settimanale dal 09/05/2011 al 15/05/2011" (in Italian). FIMI. http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_result_artisti.php?anno=2011&mese=05&id=371. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  60. ^ "Ben Harper. "Give Till It's Gone" certifié disque d'or" (in French). www.rtl2.fr. 21 luglio 2011. http://www.rtl2.fr/musique/news/7704399351/give-till-it-s-gone-certifie-disque-d-or.html. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
  61. ^ "Certifications Albums Or - année 2001" (in French). SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2001&type=8. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  62. ^ "Top 50 albums - Chart #1269 - Sunday 22 July 2000". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?ChartKind=A&ChartNum=1269. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
  63. ^ "Fistful of Mercy - Chart History". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/fistful-of-mercy/chart-history/1541249. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  64. ^ "FISTFUL OF MERCY - AS I CALL YOU DOWN (ALBUM)" (in French). lescharts.com. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fistful+Of+Mercy&titel=As+I+Call+You+Down&cat=a. Retrieved 13 May 2011. 
  65. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 244. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  66. ^ Ben Harper. "Morning Yearning". EMI Music. Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlNGEpief3Q. Retrieved 29 March 2011. 
  67. ^ "Welcome Spin Earth Fans! | Spin Magazine Online". Spinearth.tv. http://www.spinearth.tv/report/ben-harper-tells-it-like-it-is. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  68. ^ "MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young: Dave Matthews, James Taylor, Elton John, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, John Fogerty, Booker T. Jones, Norah Jones, Dierks Bentley, Josh Groban, Leon Knoles: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/MusiCares-Tribute-Neil-Young-Matthews/dp/B004VK74UE/ref=pd_cp_mov_1. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 

External links

Ben Harper
Studio albums
Live albums
Videos
Singles
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