Profile of Ben Folds on Famous Like Me

Benjamin Scott Folds (born September 12, 1966 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an American singer-songwriter. Although widely known for his prowess as a pianist, his first instrument was drums, and he is also adept at guitar and bass. Folds' compositional and playing technique remain wholly unique, combining elements of the typical 'singer/songwriter' genre, jazz, and power rock. Indeed, his music is evocative of artists such as Joe Jackson and Sir Elton John, with an added edge and bold infusion of energy and wit. It is worth noting that popular, piano-centric artists such as trio-based Keane and solo artist Matt Hales, AKA Aqualung, began their careers after Ben Folds' band Ben Folds Five broke up in 1999.

As of fall 2005, Ben Folds has released four solo LP's. His first album Fear of Pop: Volume 1, was recorded and released while Ben Folds Five was still together. Since it being highly experimental and a pre-breakup release, his first 'proper' solo album was Rockin' the Suburbs in which he played most of the instruments himself. A year later in 2002 he released Ben Folds Live, which is a collection of live solo recordings of mostly songs originally recorded with Ben Folds Five. In late 2003 two solo EPs: Speed Graphic and Sunny 16 were released, with a third entitled Super D released in mid-2004. His most recent release is Songs for Silverman.

Ben resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Frally Hynes, and two children, Louis and Gracie. The family also spends a few months each year in Frally's hometown of Adelaide, South Australia, a city immortalised in his wry, nostalgic song "Adelaide." He often tours Japan, the United States and other parts of the world.

Folds' tours are famous for his solo act as "a man and a piano," often having the audience become involved by "playing" the accompanying instruments (such as the trumpet and saxophone harmonies in "Army"). His concerts are charismatic, yet calm - an enjoyable experience for most. And although Folds is constantly putting out new songs, his concerts rarely omit classic fan favorites such as "Philosophy," "Brick," and "Army."

Folds also produced and arranged the William Shatner album, Has Been (2004); he previously worked with Shatner on the songs "In Love" and "Still in Love" for Fear of Pop.

Folds described his former band, Ben Folds Five, as "punk rock for sissies," and his oddball lyrics often contain nuances of depression, melancholy and self-conflict. Folds also provided a number of songs for film soundtracks. Some of these include "Lonely Christmas Eve" for the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), and a rendition of the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" for the film I Am Sam (2001). He has also done charity compilations, from singing "Wicked Little Town" (from film and stage show Hedwig and the Angry Inch) on the benefit album "Wig in a Box" (2003) to appearing on No Boundaries, a benefit album for the Kosovo Refugees with the song "Leather Jacket."

On a planned tour of Australia, Folds teamed up with solo artists Ben Kweller and Ben Lee to travel the country together as The Bens, at the suggestion of a fan on Ben Kweller's official website. The trio also went on to record a four-track EP together, entitled The Bens.

In summer of 2004, Folds co-headlined an American tour with fellow rockers Rufus Wainwright and Guster. His second solo album entitled Songs for Silverman was released in the U.S. on April 26, 2005, featuring Jared Reynolds on bass, and Lindsay Jamieson on the drums, thus returning to the trio format, which originally started his success, in earnest. This album includes the track "Late", a tribute to the late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, and also features "Weird Al" Yankovic on "Time." Folds is slated to perform with Rufus Wainwright and Ben Lee in the summer of 2005 as part of the "Odd Men Out" tour.

Folds supports the independent music scene, creating his own record label (Attacked By Plastic) and does promotional work for independent record stores across the country.

Discography

Ben Folds Five

• Ben Folds Five (1995) - Passenger/Caroline Records
• Whatever and Ever Amen (1997) - 550
• Naked Baby Photos (1998) - Passenger/Caroline Records
• The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner (1999) - 550

Ben Folds Solo

• Fear of Pop: Volume 1, 1998, Sony
• Rockin' the Suburbs, 2001, Sony
• Ben Folds Live, 2002, Sony
• Songs for Silverman, 2005, Epic
• Songs for Goldfish, 2005, Epic
• iTunes Originals, 2005, Sony

Solo EPs

• Speed Graphic (2003) (EP)
• Sunny 16 (2003) (EP)
• Super D (2004) (EP)
• Live at the Tower (2005) (EP)

Singles

• "Bitches Ain't Shit" (iTunes) (2005)
• "Landed" (Australia) (2005)
• "Landed" (UK) (2005)
• "Jesusland" (UK) (2005) pending
• "Bastard" (Australia) (2005) coming soon

DVD

• Ben Folds Five - The Complete Sessions at West 54th (Region 1: US only) (2001)

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