Harper, Ben

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Biography

Benjamin Chase " Ben " Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues , folk music|folk , soul music|soul , reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents. 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.

Early life

Harper was born in Claremont, California|Claremont , in California 's Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire . His father, Leonard, was of African-American and Cherokee ancestry, and his mother, Ellen Chase-Verdries, is Jew ish. His maternal great-grandmother was a Russian Jewish|Russian - Lithuanian Jew . 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. 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 (musician)|Taj Mahal and David Lindley (musician)|David Lindley and quotes of William Shakespeare and Robert Frost made often by his grandfather.Appleford, Steve. "I'll Rise: The Music and Message of Ben Harper" Page 5. Essay published in the . Released April 4, 2000. At the age of 12, Harper played his first gig. During the '80s, in his teen years, Harper began to play the slide guitar, mimicking the style of Robert Johnson (musician)|Robert Johnson . Next, Harper refined his style, taking up the Weissenborn slide guitar.ibid, page 11 Harper broke out of the Inland Empire after being offered an invitation by Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal to tour with the artist. They recorded Taj Mahal's album '' Follow the Drinkin' Gourd|Follow the Drinking Gourd , released in November 1990, and toured Hawaii .ibid, page 13

Career

In 1992 Harper recorded the Gramophone record|LP Pleasure and Pain with Traditional music|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, with Juan Nelson on bass, which became a college radio favorite and included several songs that Harper still plays live regularly. .

In 1999 at the Santa Barbara Bowl , Harper met Jack Johnson (musician)|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.

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)| Rolling Stone magazine 's Artist of the Year (''Artiste De L'Année ) in 2003, 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 U.S. presidential election, 2004|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 Burma|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 (film)|Inland Empire , alongside his wife Laura Dern .

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 (Buffalo Springfield song)|For What It's Worth ". Harper's collaboration "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" with Brazilian people|Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata peaked at #1 in Brazil and Portugal. In Brazil it also won a highly coveted Prêmio Multishow de Música Brasileira|Prêmio Multishow for "Best Song" in 2008. Also in 2008, Harper participated in the benefit album Songs for Tibet .

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

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.

Personal life

Family

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

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., peoplestar.co.uk , Retrieved on 2010-10-18.

On February 7, 2012, after being spotted at the Golden Globes, it was reported that Harper and Dern had reconciled. Divorce papers have not been formally withdrawn yet.

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
Title	Album details	US cite web	AUS cite web	SWI cite web	FRA cite web	NZ cite web	ITA cite web	POR cite web	Certifications
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 ARIA Charts\|AUS : Gold Canadian Recording Industry Association\|CAN : Gold SNEP\|FRA : Platinum
Fight for Your Mind Album by Ben Harper Released: 1995 Label: Virgin Records CAN: Platinum FRA: Gold
The Will to Live Album by Ben Harper Released: June 17, 1997 Label: Virgin Records AUS: Platinum FRA: Platinum
Burn to Shine Album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Released: September 21, 1999 Label: Virgin Records AUS: Platinum FRA: Platinum RIANZ\|NZ : Platinum
Diamonds on the Inside Album by Ben Harper Released: March 11, 2003 Label: Virgin Records AUS: 2×Platinum CAN: Gold FRA: Platinum FIMI\|ITA : Platinum Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa\|POR : Silver SWI: Gold NZ: 2×Platinum
There Will Be a Light Album by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama Released: September 21, 2004 Label: Virgin Records AUS: Gold FRA: 2×Gold
Both Sides of the Gun Album by Ben Harper March 21, 2006 Label: Virgin Records AUS: Platinum CAN: Gold FRA: Platinum SWI: Gold NZ: Platinum
Lifeline Album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals Released: August 28, 2007 Label: Virgin Records AUS: Gold FRA: Platinum SWI: Gold
White Lies for Dark Times Album by Ben Harper and Relentless7 Released: May 5, 2009 Label: Virgin Records FRA: Gold
'' Give Till It's Gone Album by Ben Harper Released: May 17, 2011 Label: Virgin Records FRA: Gold

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							Certifications
Title	Album details	US	AUS	SWI	FRA	NZ	ITA	POR	Certifications
Live from Mars Album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Released: 2001 Label: Virgin Records AUS: 2×Platinum FRA: Gold NZ: Gold
Apollo (Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama)>Live at the Apollo Album by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama Released: March 14, 2005 Label: Virgin Records
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

Other albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	US cite web	FRA cite web
As I Call You Down Album by Fistful of Mercy Released: October 5, 2010 Label: HOT Records

Virtual albums

iTunes Originals - Ben Harper

iTunes Must Haves - Ben Harper

Singles

" Like A King / Whipping Boy " (1994)

" Ground on Down " (1995)

" Excuse Me Mr. (Ben Harper song)|Excuse Me Mr. " (1996)

" Gold to Me " (1996)

" Faded (Ben Harper song)|Faded " (1997) #54 UK Singles Chart|UK

" Jah Work " (1997)

" Glory & Consequence " (1997)

" Please Bleed " (1999)

" Burn to Shine (song)|Burn to Shine " (1999)

" Forgiven (Ben Harper song)|Forgiven " (2000)

" Steal My Kisses " (2000) #15 U.S. Adult Top 40

" With My Own Two Hands " (2003)

" Diamonds On the Inside (song)|Diamonds On the Inside " (2003) #31 U.S. Adult Top 40

" Brown Eyed Blues " (2004)

" Wicked Man " (2004)

" There Will Be a Light (song)|There Will Be a Light " (2004)

" Better Way " (2006)

" Both Sides Of The Gun (song)|Both Sides Of The Gun " (2006)

" Morning Yearning " (2006)

" Fight Outta You " (2007) #61 Hot Canadian Digital Charts

" Boa Sorte/Good Luck " (2007) (with Vanessa da Mata ) #1 Portugal; #1 Brazil

" In The Colors " (2008)

" Fool For A Lonesome Train " (2008)

" Shimmer & Shine " (2009)

" Fly One Time " (2009)

" Lay There & Hate Me " (2010)

" Skin Thin " (2010)

" The Word Suicide " (2010)

Never Tear Us Apart#Never Tear Us Apart (2010 re-recording with Ben Harper)|"Never Tear Us Apart" (with INXS) (2010)

"Rock N' Roll Is Free" (2011)

"Don't Give Up on Me Now (2011, Italy only)

"Walk Away" ("")

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 (musician)|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 (song)|Daughter " & " Indifference (Pearl Jam song)|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 (song)|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 . In early 2010, Harper also performed " Ohio (CSNY song)|Ohio " at the MusiCares tribute to Neil Young.

Filmography

1998-2001: Daria (TV) – Camp Fear ("Born to Shine"/"Faded")

2001: I am Sam ("Strawberry Fields Forever")

2002: Standing in the Shadows of Motown ("Ain't Too Proud To Beg"/"I Heard It Through the Grapevine")

2003: One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill (TV) – Crash Into You

2004: Sleepover ("Way Away")

2005: Trust the Man ("Everything")

2006: Akeelah and the Bee ("Everything")

2006: Newport Beach (TV) – The Dawn Patrol ("Waiting For You")

2006: CSI: NY (TV) – And Here's to You, Mrs. Azrael ("Walk Away")

2008: Daylight Robbery (2008 film)|Daylight Robbery ("Diamonds On The Inside")

2009: State of Play (film)|State of Play ("Please Don't Talk About Murder While I'm Eating")

2009: Dr House (TV) – Brave Heart ("Faithfully Remain")

2010: Conan (TV series)|Conan (TV) – Dead Men Don't Wear Spanx ("Father's Son")

2010: Les Petits Mouchoirs (French Movie) - Ludo's death ("Amen Omen")

2010: Vampire Diaries (TV) – Katerina ("Amen Omen")

2010: The Fighter ("Glory & Consequence")

DVDs

Pleasure and Pain (2002)

Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Ben Harper film)|Live at the Hollywood Bowl (2003)

Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama-Live at the Apollo|Live at the Apollo (2005)

Copyright Citations

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Undetermined Music Artists