Vassal Gradington Benford III (born February 2, 1967) is an American record producer, executive and music industry executive. His body of work has included 57 Platinum Records awarded by the RIAA certified,[1] 8 Grammy Nominations, 11 Film Scores, 4 Television Syndications, Awards include a Grammy, several R&B awards, and a Juno Pop award. Pop songwriter of the year awards, Producer of the year awards. Vassal Benford has been producing music professionally since the early-1990s. His production has helped create career-defining hits for artists such as Toni Braxton, Debra Cox, Jade, and Chante Moore. Vassal has producing over 150 albums throughout his career. These albums have generated over $400 million in revenue for such companies as Arista, LA Face, Sony, Universal, Motown, BMG, RCA, Mercury, EMI, and Polygram.
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Benford was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Margaret Simone Benford and Henry Benford. He was given the name Vassal Gradington Benford III after the doctor who saved his mother’s life and his own life during childbirth in honor of the heroic work this man had performed. Vassal was raised in one of the United States' most poverty stricken and dangerous neighborhoods of Detroit, MI during the 1970s. Vassal was considered a child prodigy and started playing piano at age four. Vassal began playing Classical and Jazz music shortly thereafter. At age 13, Vassal started working as an intern, played keyboards, and programmed synthesizers on some of the biggest platinum albums of the time. During his teens, Vassal made his mark working at the world-famous United Sounds Recording Studio founded by Don Davis and Berry Gordy. By age 16, Benford was found working with stars like Earl Klugh, The Doobie Brothers, Michael Henderson, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Roger Trotman, The Dramatics, and George Clinton and Parliament. During this time at USRS, Benford produced/wrote/played keyboards on his first 2 records that became Platinum. The two records were named The Two of Us recorded by Nancy Wilson and Ramsy Lewis (this song was number one on Adult Contemporary chart and Jazz chart) and Fall Down (a gospel record) by Tramaine Hawkins went number 1 for 27 weeks on the Dance charts. Both of these songs came out on the same week and went number one on the charts at the same time in two different genres of music.
Benford graduated East Catholic High school in Detroit and pursued his Associates Degree in Music Studies from Michigan State University and was awarded a scholarship to the Switzerland Conservatory in Europe where he studied under the tutelage of Professor Harold McKinney. Here, Vassal studied Music Counter-Point with Professor Don Nikeloff. Benford returned to his home state of Michigan and continued working in Detroit and was awarded the Key to the City of Detroit by the City Council and the Honorable Judge Greg Mathis (now a famous television personality).
Benford moved to Los Angeles, CA in the early 1990s and began working with Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, The Jackson 5, Surface and The Jets. Vassal's introduction into the "Fast Track” of success started with Producer, Quincy Jones and Universal Record Executive Louil Silas Jr. He began working with such acts like: Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Patti Labelle, Faith Evans, Chante Moore, Oleta Adams, Tisha Campbell, and Lisa Stansfield.[2] Deborah Cox was Benford's multi-platinum discovery and also artist on his Arista distributed Vaz Records with her second hit single "Who do you love" from her self titled debut album that was certified gold and platinum and became a club hit as well, the first single was the Dallas Austin produced and co-written # 4 pop "Sentimental". Benford Dominated the Hot 100 Pop charts prior to success with Cox making history with the hit single " Don't Walk Away" performed by the female trio JADE. Holding the #1 chart position longer than any single ever performed by a group or duo for 39 long weeks.
Benford was appointed President/CEO, given his own imprint (Vaz/Arista), at Arista by Clive Davis (Arista's Chairman/CEO) where he signed his first joint-venture and signed the now Platinum artist Deborah Cox. Benford then signed with his second label imprint, Vaz/Mercury with Danny Goldberg (Chairman of Mercury Records). From here, Benford was appointed Vice President of Motown Records West Coast Division by George Jackson (President) and Clarence Avant (Chairman) of Motown Records. Benford was given his own imprint called Vaz/Motown.
Benford teamed up again with Danny Goldberg and signed a distribution deal with Artemis Records where they became the #1 independent label in the world with the hit Who Let The Dogs Out performed by singing group The Baha Men. The Baha Men is currently signed to Benford's recording label Paradigm Music Group. Later that year, Benford signed a distribution deal with music executive Michael Blaky and EMI Records. Currently, Benford has re-signed with Universal Publishing Group.
Benford's interest in film started in the early 1990s where he began working with Director/Producer George Jackson and Doug McHency. Benford’s first film music score was the comedy House Party 2. He also worked on films and TV syndications such as: Running Man; New Jack City; Class Act; The Associate; Melrose Place; Beverly Hills, 90210; and FAME LA. Benford began Executive producing Independent films in 2007. The first film ventures for Benford were titled Double Tap and Without Fear starring Fabian Carrillo. Benford then partnered with film producer Mark Canton and have been working to create Paradigm Motion Pictures.
Benford has recently collaborated with Super Star Producer R. Kelly, Charlie Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, Baha Men (Who Let The Dogs Out) Mega Hip Hop Producer Swizz Beats, and rapper Cassidy. As of year 2009 Vassal Benford expanded his talents and companies as well as he began producing, scoring, and distributing feature films. Benford is presently Executive producing feature films starring actors Billy Bob Thornton, Hilary Duff, and Winona Ryder. Benford resides presently as Chairman/CEO of Paradigm Motion Pictures with partner and film Producer Mark Canton producer of the Box Office Blockbuster film 300. Vassal and Mark met on the set of the film New Jack City.