Biography
Who is Ben Harper?
Early life and background
Benjamin Chase Harper was born on October 28, 1969, in Pomona, California. His father was Leonard Harper, and his mother is Ellen Harper Verdries. His parents divorced when he was five years old, and he grew up with his mother's family, including his two younger brothers, Joel and Peter Harper.
As a child, Ben began playing the guitar. His maternal grandparents owned the Folk Music Center and Museum in Claremont, California, which provided a strong foundation in folk and blues music. Regular visitors to the store included Leonard Cohen, Taj Mahal, John Darnielle, and David Lindley. At the age of nine, Ben attended a performance by Bob Marley in Burbank, California, which became a major influence on his musical path.
Early career and rise to fame
By the age of twelve, Ben played his first musical gig. During the 1980s, he began playing the slide guitar, mimicking the style of Robert Johnson before transitioning to the Weissenborn slide guitar. Taj Mahal invited Ben to tour and record with him, appearing on the album Follow the Drinking Gourd, which was released in November 1990.
In 1992, Ben recorded the album Pleasure and Pain with Tom Freund. This limited release led to a lifetime record deal with Virgin Records. In 1993, he toured France and California with his band, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. He released his debut studio album, Welcome to the Cruel World, in 1994, followed by Fight For Your Mind in 1995, which featured bassist Juan Nelson and gained popularity on college radio stations.
Career highlights and awards
Ben has released numerous studio albums, toured internationally, and earned multiple Grammy Award nominations and wins. He won his first Grammy Awards in 2004 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. He secured another Grammy Award in 2013 for Best Blues Album for the record Get Up!, which was a collaboration with Charlie Musselwhite.
In addition to his solo work and recordings with the Innocent Criminals, Ben has collaborated with many artists. He formed the band Fistful of Mercy with Dhani Harrison and Joseph Arthur, releasing the album As I Call You Down in 2010. He also produced music for other artists, including Mavis Staples for her 2019 album We Get By and Natalie Maines for her debut solo rock album Mother.
Family and personal life
Ben married his first wife, Joanna, in 1996, and they had two children together named Ellery and Jaya. The couple separated in 2000 and divorced in 2001. He later dated actress Laura Dern after meeting her at a concert in the fall of 2000, and the two later married.
Outside of music, Ben has participated in various benefit concerts and activism efforts. He joined the Vote for Change tour in 2004 to encourage voter participation in swing states and contributed to benefit albums such as Songs for Tibet. He is also a member of the No Nukes group, which opposes the expansion of nuclear power.
Birthday and age
Ben Harper was born on October 28, 1969, which makes Ben 57 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Ben shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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