| Ben Wysocki | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Benjamin Wysocki |
| Born | November 26, 1984 |
| Origin | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Genres | Piano rock, pop rock, alternative rock |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Years active | 2003─present |
| Labels | Epic, Sony |
| Associated acts | The Fray |
| Website | www.thefray.net |
| Notable instruments | |
| Drums | |
Benjamin Wysocki (born November 26, 1984) is the drummer for Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.
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Wysocki was born in Denver, Colorado, in a conservative household. After struggling with piano lessons (which he took at his parents' request), he began to learn how to play drums in the sixth grade.[1] Ben cites his first influence on music was the song "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys. He has stated that he wanted to be a "rock and roll drummer" from a young age, and has cited his other major influences as Ringo Starr (The Beatles) and Jack Irons (formerly of Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Ben started playing the drums when he was in seventh grade for a band named "Ember" with future The Fray singer-pianist Isaac Slade and guitarist Dave Welsh.[2] "Ember" soon dissolved, and in the spring of 2002, Slade ran into guitarist Joe King. The duo began regular jam sessions, which led to writing new songs. Wysocki joined them in the role of drummer, and later Welsh was invited to join the band as lead guitarist. The newly formed band was named "The Fray".
The Fray achieved mainstream success with their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005. Their second album, The Fray, released in 2009, continued the band's success, debuting at number-one on the Billboard 200 chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010.[3]
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