Right from day one, Ben Harper has been surrounded by music. His parents listened to wide ranges of music, his father was a percussionist, his mother a guitarist and singer. Ben's grandparents still run the Folk Music Center near Los Angeles where Ben grew up among the most varied collection of instruments. It is here that Ben was introduced to his now signature instument: a 1920's Hawaiian lap slide guitar named as it's creator - Weissenborn. The guitar features a fretless, thick hollow neck, which must be seen to be believed, but produces unheard of tone and sustain.
Ben's musical career took of when he was noticed playing along side mentor Taj Mahal. His debut album "Welcome to the Cruel World" was released in 1994, a mix of acoustic and folk sounds with social outcries in such songs as "Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave" and "Like A King", a song about the irony of Martin Luther King's dream, and racism victim Rodney King's worst nightmare.
Ben then followed with the next album "Fight For Your Mind" making more use of the talents of his band the Innocent Criminals. (Juan Nelson on bass and Oliver Charles on drums.
"Fight For Your Mind" reflected once again the social and political issues Ben felt strongly about, and added solid, slighly aggressive guitar work, such as the hail of lap slide solos in "God Fearing Man".
In 1997, Ben released his third album "The Will To Live". Truly a step in a new direction while at the same time a trip down the same emotional road as his two previous albums, Ben experiments for the first time with distortion on his Weissenborn, opening the album with the electrifying riffs of the single "Faded". After urging from long time friend and producer JP Plunier, and despite his acoustic roots, Ben picked up an electric roundneck for "Glory & Consequence" and has grown from there.
"Burn To Shine", released in 1999 under the name "Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals" (with new percussionist David Leach), has reflected the constant motion of Ben's musical influences and creative outputs. Proving to be just as, if not more rock oriented than the last album, Ben also explores other styles such as the 1920's jazz piece "Suzie Blue" and the ever popular funky single "Steal My Kisses" all the while retaining his original soulful creations such as "Beloved One".
While his recorded albums maybe an awesome inspiration to millions, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals in live performance, is something of a legend. Remaining seated the entire concert whether Weissenborn or other, Ben and the Innocent Criminals put on a spine chilling live show likened to a religious experience.
Ben Harper and his band continue to produce real music amidst the commercial "pop" of todays music world. No easy feat by any standard.
Bio written by: samers |
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