Ben Rector

Ben Rector
Background information
Birth name Benjamin Evans Rector
Born November 6, 1986
Origin Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Genres Pop rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Piano, guitar, vocals
Years active 2006–present
Website benrectormusic.com

Ben Rector (born November 6, 1986) is an American musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. His most recent record, The Walking in Between, was released in August 2013. In October 2013, Rector celebrated 100,000 records and 2 million singles sold.

History

Early life

Rector was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. took piano lessons as a small child but did not begin pursuing music seriously until he picked up guitar and later songwriting in high school. During his first year at the University of Arkansas he released a self-titled EP that featured the song "Conversation", which went on to win the Grand Prize in the pop category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006.[1] He is the youngest person ever to win the award for the pop category. The EP grew popular in surrounding states, and Rector began touring frequently on weekends and during breaks in the school year. In 2008 Rector released his first full-length record, Twenty Tomorrow, followed by Songs That Duke Wrote in 2009. In 2009 Rector was given the NAMA award for best singer songwriter in Northwest Arkansas.[2] During his college career at the University of Arkansas he played approximately 200 shows. In June 2009 Rector moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting and to continue his career as an artist.
"The Beat"
"The Beat" is from Ben Rector's third studio album, Into the Morning.
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Into the Morning and Something Like This (2009–2012)

Rector’s third studio album, Into the Morning, was released on February 16, 2010 reached No. 11 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.[3][4] Following the release, Rector co-headlined the "Three Amigos Tour" with fellow Nashvillians Steve Moakler and Andrew Ripp. The rest of 2010 brought support slots with Dave Barnes and Five for Fighting, "The Beat Lives Forever" co-headline tour with Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, and the "Feels Like Home" tour in Germany, organized by Johannes Strate of the German band Revolverheld. In the early 2011 Rector headlined the Midwest, supported fellow Nashville artist Matt Wertz's "Weights & Wings" national release tour, and performed on the VH1 Best Cruise Ever with many artists including Train, The Script, Colbie Caillat and Lifehouse.[5]

Something Like This was released September 2011. In mid-2011, Rector co-produced Steve Moakler’s Watching Time Run. Following the release of Something Like This Rector headlined the "Good Time Tour" which spanned 25 cities with Andrew Belle and Graham Colton as support. Over half of the shows sold-out in advance. Rector was featured as direct support for a US coast to coast tour with Needtobreathe during their "The Reckoning" Tour in early 2012.[6]

The Walking in Between (2013–present)

Starting March 20, 2013 at Common Grounds in Waco, Texas, The Rectour continued until May 11, 2013, with Alpha Rev as direct support for all dates. Rector toured through 32 cites and 2 Countries (United States & Canada). The tour included sold out dates in the following cities: Waco, Texas; College Station, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Norman, Oklahoma; Auburn, Alabama; Birmingham, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; Greenville, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Raleigh, North Carolina; New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Chicago, Illinois. His four-piece backing band included musicians Matthew Kidd (electric guitar), Cody Fry (guitar/keyboards), Kevin MacIntire (bass), and Jake Goss (drum set). In a nod to Elton John, Rector and his band earned the nickname Bennie & The Jets and opened every show with a slick cover of John's famed hit.

The Walking in Between was released on August 20, 2013. It was partly produced by Jamie Kenney and Charlie Peacock and partially self-produced. It is the first release on Rector's own Aptly Named Recordings label. The album debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 chart.[7]

Rector is touring with Needtobreathe, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, and Colony House for the first leg of the "Tour De Compadres" tour in early 2015.[8]

Discography

Albums

Year Title
2007 Twenty Tomorrow
2008 Songs That Duke Wrote
2010 Into the Morning
2011 Something Like This
2013 The Walking in Between

EPs

Year Title
2006 Ben Rector
2009 Jingles and Bells
2010 Summer Candy

References

  1. ↑ 2006 Grand Prize Winners – Session I. Jlsc.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-05.
  2. ↑ The 2009 NAMA winners. Fayettevilleflyer.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-05.
  3. ↑ Billboard: Ben Rector Is a Gimmick Free Pop 'Nobody'. Billboard.com. Posted: 09/25/2011. Retrieved on 02/23/2012.
  4. ↑ Ben Rector: Family Friendly. Blog.lp33.tv. 9 April 2010. Retrieved on 2011-09-05.
  5. ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune: VH1 Best Cruise Ever, featuring Train, Lifehouse, Colbie Caillat, The Script, setting sail soon. sltrib.com
  6. ↑ NEEDTOBREATHE: The Reckoning Spring Tour 2012. needtobreathe.net
  7. ↑ "Ben Rector Album Debuts at 16 on Billboard 200". LLC. Retrieved 22 September 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  8. ↑ http://www.needtobreathe.com/tour

External links