''Live from Abbey Road'' is a 12-part, one-hour performance series/documentary that began filming its first season during 2006 at Abbey Road Studios in London. Season 2 was filmed between 2007 and 2008 and season 3 was filmed in 2009. The series features a total of 104 musical artists to date (about 36 per Season) -- usually three per show, performing up to three songs per session. The sessions are recorded without a live audience. Filmed in High-Definition with the occasional use of 35 mm lenses, the producers have sought to record performances which “look like a movie and sound like a record”.

Broadcast licenses

The series began broadcasting on Channel 4 / More 4 in the UK in January 2007 under a license from Channel 4. Since season 2 the series has been licensed for broadcast in 27 countries around the world, including EBS in Korea, Sundance Channel in the US, Metro TV in Indonesia, NHK in Japan, HOT Family in Israel, Star TV in Asia, Creative Networks in Italy, Okto (formerly Arts Central in Singapore), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and MuchMoreMusic in Canada, Sony Entertainment Television in Latin America, IntraCommunications in Russia, Kanal 5 ,in Sweden, Dream TV, in Turkey, Once TV, in México and Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia. The series is distributed for broadcast by Fremantle Media. The series is licensed to 112 territories in total.

Production

Live from Abbey Road Limited is an independent production company formed by the series’ producer, Michael Gleason. The series is produced under a multi year license from EMI, owner of Abbey Road Studios. Season 3 finished broadcasting in the UK in December 2009 and commences broadcasting on Sundance Channel in the US in February 2010.

Musicians

The first series features famous musicians and groups from various genres, artists playing Rock music to Heavy metal, music influenced by Electronic music such as Dance and Industrial, Pop and even Jazz and Blues have all been featured. The artists spend the day at Abbey Road rehearsing and performing. Many have their own mixing desk and sound techs on site. The idea is to capture the sound created during the production of a record, and to film the process without an audience, typical of the atmosphere in a recording studio.

Series 1

#Snow Patrol, Madeleine Peyroux and Red Hot Chili Peppers #Paul Simon, Corinne Bailey Rae and Primal Scream #Craig David, James Morrison and Dave Matthews #Amos Lee, David Gilmour and Randy Crawford & Joe Sample #The Kooks, Wynton Marsalis and Muse #The Zutons, Shawn Colvin, Nerina Pallot and Ray Lamontagne #Kasabian, Josh Groban and The Good, the Bad & the Queen #Gnarls Barkley, The Feeling and The Killers #Dr. John, LeAnn Rimes and Massive Attack #Jamiroquai, Damien Rice and Goo Goo Dolls #Natasha Bedingfield, Gipsy Kings and Iron Maiden #John Mayer, Richard Ashcroft and Norah Jones

Series 2

#Mary J. Blige, Dashboard Confessional and James Blunt #Sheryl Crow, Hard-Fi and Diana Krall #Stereophonics, Colbie Caillat and Joan Armatrading #Panic at the Disco, David Gray and Suzanne Vega #The Hoosiers, The Black Keys and Manu Chao #Matchbox Twenty, The Script and Def Leppard #Rascal Flatts, Kate Nash, Herbie Hancock #The Kills, Sara Bareilles and The Fratellis #The Subways, Gnarls Barkley and Herbie Hancock #Elbow, MGMT and Alanis Morissette #Justin Currie, Ben Harper and Bryan Adams #Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright and Brian Wilson

Series 3

The third series began airing in the UK on 11 October 2009.

#The Killers, Florence and the Machine and Chairlift #Antony & the Johnsons, The Enemy, and Paloma Faith #The Gossip, The Mars Volta and Friendly Fires #Noisettes, Lyle Lovett and Doves # Mika, La Roux and Bloc Party #Fleet Foxes, PJ Harvey and John Parish and Manchester Orchestra #Seal, Imelda May and Sugarland #Counting Crows, Melody Gardot and Hockey #Yusuf Islam, The Fray and White Lies #Green Day, Bat For Lashes and Starsailor #Michael Bublé, The Temper Trap and Little Boots #A Tribute to the Beatles' Abbey Road album

Series 4

#Raphael Saadiq and Noah and the Whale #Blondie and Anna Calvi #Beady Eye and James Blake #Rumer and The Villagers #Kaiser Chiefs and Glasvegas #Brandon Flowers and Lykke Li

References

External links

Category:British music television programmes

es:Live from Abbey Road

name	Abbey Road
type	studio
artist	The Beatles
cover	Beatles - Abbey Road.jpg
released	26 September 1969
recorded	EMI, Olympic and Trident Studios, London
genre	Rock
length	47:23
label	Apple
producer	George Martin
last album	''Yellow Submarine'' (1969)
this album	''Abbey Road'' (1969)
next album	''Let It Be'' (1970)
misc	}}

''Abbey Road'' is the eleventh studio album released by the English rock band The Beatles and their last recorded. Though ''Let It Be'' was the last album released before the band's dissolution in 1970, work on ''Abbey Road'' began in April 1969. ''Abbey Road'' was released on 26 September 1969 in the United Kingdom, and 1 October 1969 in the United States.

''Abbey Road'' is widely regarded as one of The Beatles' most tightly constructed albums, although the band was barely operating as a functioning unit at the time. ''Rolling Stone'' placed it at number 14 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2009, readers of the magazine also named ''Abbey Road'' the greatest Beatles album.

Composition and recording

Background

After the near-disastrous sessions for the proposed ''Get Back'' album (later retitled and released as ''Let It Be''), Paul McCartney suggested to George Martin that the group get together and make an album "the way we used to", free of the conflict that began following the death of Brian Epstein and carrying over to the sessions for the "White Album". Martin agreed, stipulating that he must be allowed to do the album his way. In their interviews for ''The Beatles Anthology'', the surviving band members stated that, although none of them ever made the distinction of calling it the "last album", they all felt at the time this would very likely be the final Beatles product and therefore agreed to set aside their differences and "go out on a high note".

With the ''Let It Be'' album partly finished, the sessions for ''Abbey Road'' began in April, as the single "The Ballad of John and Yoko" / "Old Brown Shoe" was completed. In fact, recording sessions of John Lennon's "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" had already started in February 1969 in Trident studios, with Billy Preston on the organ—only three weeks after the ''Get Back'' sessions. Photos from these sessions are included in the book ''Get Back'', which came along with the ''Let It Be'' album but not in the ''Let It Be'' film. McCartney is shaved and Lennon has started to let his beard grow.

Most of the album was recorded between 2 July and 1 August 1969. After the album was finished and released, the ''Get Back'' / ''Let It Be'' project was re-examined. More work was done on the album, including the recording of additional music (see ''Let It Be''). Thus, though the bulk of ''Let It Be'' was recorded prior to ''Abbey Road'', the latter was released first, and ''Abbey Road'' was the last album properly started by The Beatles before they disbanded. Lennon was on hiatus from the group and working with the Plastic Ono Band during the September 1969 lead-up to ''Abbey Road'''s release, which was effectively the first official sign of The Beatles' impending dissolution.

The two album sides are quite different in character. Side one is a collection of unconnected tracks, while most of side two consists of a long suite of compositions, many of them being relatively short and segued together. The main impetus behind the suite approach was to incorporate the various short and incomplete Lennon and McCartney compositions the group had available into an effective part of the album.

Side one

"Come Together"

The album opener "Come Together" was a Lennon contribution. The chorus was inspired by a song Lennon originally wrote for Timothy Leary's campaign for governor of California titled "Let's Get It Together". A rough version of this can be heard in outtakes from Lennon's second bed-in event in Canada.

It has been speculated that the verses, described by Lennon as intentionally obscure, refer cryptically to each of The Beatles (e.g. "he's one holy roller" allegedly refers to the spiritually inclined George Harrison); however, it has also been suggested that the song has only a single "pariah-like protagonist" and Lennon was "painting another sardonic self-portrait". The song was later the subject of a lawsuit brought against Lennon by Morris Levy because the opening line in "Come Together"—"''Here come old flat-top''"—was admittedly lifted from a line in Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me".

"Come Together" was later released as a double A-side single with "Something". In the liner notes to the ''Love'' album Martin described the track as a personal favourite.

"Something"

The second track on the album later became Harrison's first A-side single. Basing the first line of the song on "Something in the Way She Moves" from James Taylor's 1968 Apple Records album ''James Taylor'', Harrison wrote "Something" during the ''The Beatles'' sessions. After the lyrics were refined during the "Let It Be" sessions (tapes reveal Lennon giving Harrison some songwriting advice during its composition), the song was initially given to Joe Cocker, but was subsequently recorded for ''Abbey Road''. "Something" was Lennon's favourite song on the album, and McCartney considered it the best song Harrison had written. Frank Sinatra once commented that "Something" was his favourite song (sic) and "the greatest love song ever written". The song was released as a double A-side single with "Come Together".

Harrison was rapidly growing as a songwriter, and with ''Abbey Road'', he made his most significant contributions to a Beatles album. "Something" became the first Beatles number one single that was not a Lennon/McCartney composition—it was also the first single from an already released album; "Here Comes the Sun" has received significant radio airplay despite never having been released as a single. At the Concert for George on the first anniversary of Harrison's death, "Something" was sung by McCartney, who performed the first part of the song solo while playing ukulele. After the first chorus, the song shifted to its traditional arrangement, with other musicians joining in, and Eric Clapton sharing vocals with McCartney.

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer", McCartney's first song on the album, was first performed by The Beatles during the ''Let It Be'' sessions (as can be seen in the ''Let It Be'' documentary).

According to Geoff Emerick's book, ''Here, There and Everywhere,'' Lennon said the song was "more of Paul's granny music", and refused to participate in the recording of the song.

"Oh! Darling"

When recording "Oh! Darling", McCartney attempted recording only once a day. He said, "When we were recording 'Oh! Darling' I came into the studios early every day for a week to sing it by myself because at first my voice was too clear. I wanted it to sound as though I'd been performing it on stage all week." Lennon was of the opinion that it was the type of song that he would've sung the lead on, remarking that it was more his style. On the ''Anthology 3'' album, Lennon can be heard singing the lead on an ad-libbed verse regarding the news that Yoko Ono's divorce from Anthony Cox, her previous husband, had just come through.

"Octopus's Garden"

Ringo Starr wrote and sang one song for the album, "Octopus's Garden", his second (and last) solo composition released on a Beatles album. It was inspired by a trip to Sardinia aboard Peter Sellers' yacht that occurred when Starr left the band for two weeks with his family during the sessions for ''The Beatles''. While there, he composed the song, which is arguably his most successful writing effort. While Starr had the lyrics nearly pinned down, the song's melodic structure was partly written in the studio by Harrison (as can be seen in the ''Let It Be'' film), although Harrison gave full songwriting credit to Starr. (Harrison and Starr would later collaborate on Starr's solo singles "It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph").

"I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

"I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is a combination of two somewhat different recording attempts. The first attempt occurred almost immediately after the "Get Back/Let It Be" sessions in February 1969 and featuring Billy Preston on keyboards. This was subsequently combined with a second version made during the "Abbey Road" sessions proper, and when edited together ran nearly 8 minutes long, making it The Beatles' second-longest released song ("Revolution 9" being the longest). Perhaps more than any other Beatles song, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" reveals a pronounced progressive rock influence, with its unusual length and structure, repeating guitar riff, and white noise effects; the "I Want You" section has a straightforward blues structure. It also features one of the earliest uses of a Moog synthesiser to create the white-noise or "wind" effect heard near the end of the track. During the final edit, as the guitar riff and white noise effect continues on and on, Lennon told engineer Emerick to "cut it right there" at the 7:44 mark, creating a sudden, jarring silence which concluded side one of ''Abbey Road''. The final overdub session for "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" would be the last time all four Beatles worked in the studio together.

Side two

"Here Comes the Sun"

"Here Comes the Sun" is Harrison's second song on the album and one of his best-known; it was written in Eric Clapton's garden while Harrison was absent from an Apple board meeting. While not released as a single, the song has received frequent radio airplay since its release.

"Because"

"Because" features a Moog synthesiser, played by Harrison. The chords in the song were inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata", in a roundabout way: Lennon said he "was lying on the sofa in our house, listening to Yoko play Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata' on the piano. Suddenly, I said, 'Can you play those chords backward?' She did, and I wrote 'Because' around them." "Because" features three-part harmonies by Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, which were then triple-tracked to sound like nine singers.

Medley

The climax of the album is the 16-minute medley consisting of several short songs, both finished and unfinished, blended into a suite by McCartney and Martin. Most of these songs were written (and originally recorded in demo form) during sessions for ''The White Album'' and the ''Get Back''/''Let It Be'' sessions.

"You Never Give Me Your Money" is the first song of the Abbey Road medley. It was written by McCartney and based on his feelings towards Allen Klein and what McCartney viewed as Klein's empty promises. It slowly and quietly follows into "Sun King" (which, like "Because", showcases Lennon's, McCartney's, and Harrison's overdubbed harmonies), "Mean Mr. Mustard" (written during The Beatles' trip to India), and "Polythene Pam" (contributed by Lennon). These in turn are followed by four McCartney songs, "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" (written after a fan came into McCartney's residence literally through the bathroom window), "Golden Slumbers" (based on lyrics from Thomas Dekker's 17th-century poem, but not the music of a song based on the poem), "Carry That Weight" (featuring chorus vocals from all four Beatles), and the climax, "The End".

"The End" is notable for featuring Starr's only drum solo in The Beatles' catalogue (the drums are mixed across two tracks in "true stereo"—in a similar way to the studio single version of ''Get Back''). Normally, even though mixes were in stereo, the drums were mixed in mono, locked together with other instruments and often panned hard left or right in the stereo "picture". Fifty-four seconds into the song, before the famous last line, which is played over piano chords, are 18 bars (or measures) of guitar solo: the first two bars are played by McCartney, the second two by Harrison, and the third two by Lennon, then the sequence repeats. Each has a distinctive style which McCartney felt reflected their personalities: McCartney's playing included string bends similar to his lead guitar work on "Another Girl" from the ''Help!'' album; Harrison's was melodic with slides yet technically advanced and Lennon's was rhythmic, stinging and had the heaviest distortion. Immediately after Lennon's third solo, the piano chords of the final part of the song begin. The song ends with the memorable final line, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make".

An alternative version of the song, with Harrison's lead guitar solo played against McCartney's (with Starr's drum solo heard in the background), appears on the ''Anthology 3'' album.

"Her Majesty"

"Her Majesty", tacked on the end, was originally part of the side two medley, appearing between "Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Polythene Pam". McCartney disliked the way the medley sounded when it included "Her Majesty", so he had the medley re-edited to remove it. However, second engineer John Kurlander had been instructed never to throw out anything, so after the group left the recording studio that day, he picked it up off the floor, spliced 14 seconds of red leader tape onto the final mix reel, and then spliced in "Her Majesty" immediately after the leader tape. The box of the album's master reel bore an instruction to leave "Her Majesty" off the final product, but the next day when Malcolm Davies at Apple received the tape, he (also trained not to throw anything away) cut a playback lacquer of the whole sequence, including "Her Majesty". The Beatles liked this effect and left it on the album. Original US and UK pressings of ''Abbey Road'' do not list "Her Majesty" on the album's cover nor on the record label, making it a hidden track.

"Her Majesty" opens with the final, crashing chord of "Mean Mr. Mustard", while the final note of "Her Majesty" remained buried in the mix of "Polythene Pam". This is the result of "Her Majesty" being snipped off the reel during a rough mix of the medley. The cut in the medley was subsequently disguised with further mixing although "Her Majesty" was not touched again and still appears in its rough mix, except on ''The Beatles: Rock Band'' where the final note has been restored.

Reception

''Abbey Road'' became one of the most successful Beatles albums ever. In the UK the album debuted straight at number 1. ''Abbey Road'' spent its first 11 weeks in the UK charts at number 1, before being displaced to number 2 for one week by the Rolling Stones debuting at the top with ''Let It Bleed''. However, the following week—which was the week of Christmas—''Abbey Road'' returned to the top for another 6 weeks, completing 17 weeks at the top. In all it spent 92 weeks inside the UK Top 75, and 16 years later on 31 October 1987, when it was released for the first time on CD, it reached number 30. In the UK ''Abbey Road'' was the best-selling album of 1969 and the fourth best-selling of the entire 1960s, and the eighth best-selling album of 1970.

Reaction in the US was similar. The album debuted at number 178, then moved to number 4 and in its third week to number 1, spending 11 non-consecutive weeks at the top. ''Abbey Road'' spent a total of 129 weeks in the Billboard 200, re-entering the chart at number 69 on 14 November 1987 when it was released for the first time on CD. It was the NARM best selling album of 1969 and was number 4 on ''Billboard'' magazine's top LPs of 1970 year-end chart. ''Abbey Road'' was certified 12x platinum by the RIAA in 2001.

In June 1970, Allen Klein reported that US sales of ''Abbey Road'' were about 5 million. When The Beatles disbanded, Abbey Road had sold over 7 million copies worldwide. According to EMI, its worldwide sales reached 7.6 million copies in October 1972. This was also the first Beatles' album to reach the 10-million mark in worldwide sales, in 1980. It achieved high placings (often as the highest placed Beatles album) in 'best albums in history' polls carried out between 1997 and 2006 in the US, the UK, and Australia.

Production notes

''Abbey Road'', ''The Beatles'' (partially) and ''Let It Be'' were the only Beatles albums to be recorded on professional eight-track reel to reel tape machines, rather than the four-track machines that were used for prior Beatles albums starting with the single "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1963 and the album ''A Hard Day's Night'' in 1964. EMI's management had not approved the use of their then-new 3M eight-track deck until shortly after the sessions for their 1968 single "Hey Jude". Also, the Moog is prominently featured, not merely as a background effect, but sometimes playing a central role, as in "Because" where it is used for the middle 8. It is also prominent on "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (played using a ribbon strip) and "Here Comes the Sun". The instrument was introduced to the band by Harrison who, earlier in 1969, had used one to create his ''Electronic Sound'' album.

''Abbey Road'' was also the first and only Beatles album to be entirely recorded through a solid state transistor mixing desk as opposed to thermionic valve.

One of the assistant engineers working on the album was a then-unknown Alan Parsons. He went on to engineer Pink Floyd's landmark album ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' and produce many popular albums himself with The Alan Parsons Project. John Kurlander also assisted on many of the sessions, and went on to become a successful engineer and producer, most noteworthy for his success on the scores for ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy.

Album sleeve

The sleeve was designed by Apple Records creative director Kosh. It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover.

Imagery

The front cover design, a photograph of the group traversing a zebra crossing, was based on sketched ideas by McCartney and taken on 8 August 1969 outside EMI Studios on Abbey Road. At around 11:30 that morning, photographer Iain Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo whilst he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up the traffic.

In the scene, the group walk across the street in single file from left to right, with Lennon leading, followed by Starr, McCartney, and Harrison. McCartney is barefoot. With the exception of Harrison, the group are wearing suits designed by Tommy Nutter. To the left of the picture, parked next to the zebra crossing, is a white Volkswagen Beetle motor-car which belonged to one of the people living in the block of flats across from the recording studio. After the album was released, the number plate (LMW 281F) was stolen repeatedly from the car. In 1986, the car was sold at auction for £2,530 and in 2001 was on display in a museum in Germany. The man standing on the pavement to the right of the picture is Paul Cole (c. 1911 – 13 February 2008), an American tourist unaware he had been photographed until he saw the album cover months later.

Legacy

The image of the Beatles on the crossing has become one of the most famous and imitated in recording history. The crossing is a popular destination for Beatles fans and there is a webcam featuring it. In December 2010, the crossing was given grade II listed status for its "cultural and historical importance"; the Abbey Road studios themselves had been given similar status earlier in the year.

Cover versions

The songs on ''Abbey Road'' have been covered many times (see the song articles for more details) and the album itself has been covered in its entirety.

One month after ''Abbey Road'''s release, George Benson recorded a cover version of the album called ''The Other Side of Abbey Road''. Later in 1969 Booker T. & the M.G.'s recorded ''McLemore Avenue'' (the location of Stax Records) which covered the ''Abbey Road'' songs and had a similar cover photo.

Additionally, several artists have covered some or all of the side B medley, including Phil Collins (for the Martin/Beatles tribute album ''In My Life''), Soundgarden, Dream Theater, The String Cheese Incident, Transatlantic, The Punkles, Tenacious D, Umphrey's Mcgee, 70 Volt Parade, Furthur.

Track listing

;Notes

"Her Majesty" appears as a hidden track. Between "The End" and "Her Majesty" is 14 seconds of silence. Later releases of the album included the song on the track listing.

Some cassette tape versions in the UK and US had "Come Together" and "Here Comes the Sun" swapped so that Harrison's composition opens the album.

Tracks 3 through 7 on side two are sometimes noted as one song (medley) called "The Abbey Road Medley".

Tracks 8 through 10 on side two are sometimes noted as one song called "The Golden Slumbers Medley".

Personnel

According to Mark Lewisohn, Alan W. Pollack and Barry Miles.

;The Beatles

George Harrison – lead, rhythm, acoustic, and bass guitars; lead, harmony and backing vocals (sometimes multitracked); Hammond organ, harmonium and Moog synthesiser; handclaps and assorted percussion

John Lennon – lead and rhythm guitars; six and twelve-string acoustic guitars; lead, harmony and backing vocals (sometimes multitracked); electric and acoustic piano; Hammond organ and Moog synthesiser; white noise generator and sound effects; tambourine and maracas

Paul McCartney – lead, rhythm, acoustic, and bass guitars; fuzz bass; lead, harmony and backing vocals (sometimes multitracked); electric and acoustic pianos; Hammond organ and Moog synthesiser (ribbon strip); handclaps and assorted percussion and sound effects

Ringo Starr – drums, percussion, timpani, anvil (on "Maxwell Silver Hammer") and handclaps; lead vocals on "Octopus's Garden" and "Carry that Weight" (shared with McCartney, Lennon and Harrison), backing vocals

;Additional musicians

George Martin – piano; electric harpsichord, organ, harmonium and percussion

Billy Preston – Hammond organ on "Something" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

Mal Evans – anvil on the ''Let It Be'' film recording of "Maxwell Silver Hammer"

;Production

"Something" and "Here Comes the Sun" orchestrated and conducted by George Martin (with George Harrison)

"Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight" and "The End" orchestrated and conducted by George Martin (with Paul McCartney)

Produced by George Martin (with the Beatles)

Recorded by Geoff Emerick and Phil McDonald

Assistant Engineering by Alan Parsons

Mixed by Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald and George Martin (with the Beatles)

Moog programming by Mike Vickers

Chart positions

!Year	!Chart	!PeakPosition
1969	UK Albums Chart

Release history

{|class="wikitable" !Country !Date !Label !Format !Catalogue number |- |United Kingdom |26 September 1969 |Apple (Parlophone) |LP |PCS 7088 |- |United States |1 October 1969 |Apple, Capitol |LP |SO 383 |- |Japan |21 May 1983 |Toshiba-EMI |Compact Disc |CP35-3016 |- |Worldwide reissue |10 October 1987 |Apple, Parlophone, EMI |CD |CDP 7 46446 2 |- |Japan |11 March 1998 |Toshiba-EMI |CD |TOCP 51122 |- |Japan |21 January 2004 |Toshiba-EMI |Remastered LP |TOJP 60142 |- |Worldwide reissue |9 September 2009 |Apple |Remastered CD |0946 3 82468 24 |}

See also

List of best-selling albums worldwide

List of best-selling albums in the United States

Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

References

External links

Beatles comments on each song

Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick on Abbey Road – A track-by-track walkthrough

Category:1969 albums Category:Albums produced by George Martin Category:Albums recorded at Abbey Road Studios Category:Apple Records albums Category:The Beatles albums Category:Capitol Records albums Category:English-language albums Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Category:Recording Industry Association of America Diamond Award albums

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name	Damien Rice
background	solo_singer
birth name	Damien Rice
birth date	December 07, 1973
origin	Kildare, Ireland
instrument	Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Clarinet, Percussion
genre	Folk, indie rock, folk rock
occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer
years active	1991–present
label	Vector RecordingsRepublic RecordsHeffa RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsDRM/14th Floor Records
associated acts	Juniper, Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan
website	www.damienrice.com
notable instruments	}}

Damien Rice (born 7 December 1973) is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion.

Rice was raised in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland and began his musical career as a member of the 1990s rock group Juniper. After leaving the band he worked as a farmer in Tuscany and busked throughout Europe before returning to Ireland in 2001 and beginning a solo musical career.

In 2002 his debut album ''O'' reached #8 on the UK albums chart, won the Shortlist music prize and generated three top-30 singles in the UK. Rice released his second album ''9'' in 2006 and his songs have appeared in numerous films and television episodes.

Rice's personal activities include musical contributions to charitable projects such as the Songs for Tibet, Freedom Campaign and the Enough Project.

Early life

Rice was born to George and Maureen Rice and raised in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.

Career

Rice began his music career using the stage name "Dodima" Rice and formed the rock band Juniper along with Paul Noonan, Dominic Philips, David Geraghty and Brian Crosby in 1991. The band met whilst they were attending Salesian College secondary school in Celbridge, Co. Kildare as students. After touring throughout Ireland the band released their debut EP ''Manna'' in 1995. Based in Straffan, Kildare the band continued touring and signed a six album record deal with Polygram. Their recording projects generated the singles “Weatherman” and “Single of the Fortnight” which received favorable reviews.

After achieving his musical goals with Juniper, Rice became frustrated with the artistic compromises required by the record label, and he left the band in 1998. Rice moved to Tuscany in Italy and took up farming for some time, then returned to Ireland before busking around Europe. After returning to Ireland a second time, Rice gave a demo recording to his cousin, music producer David Arnold who then gave Rice a mobile studio.

2000 to present

In 2001, Rice's song "The Blower's Daughter" made the top 40 chart. Over the next year he continued to record his album with New York drummer Tom Osander aka Tomo, Paris pianist Jean Meunier, London producer David Arnold, Dublin vocalist Lisa Hannigan and cellist Vyvienne Long. Rice then embarked on a tour of Ireland with Hannigan, Tomo, Vyvienne, and Dublin bassist Shane Fitzsimons.

In 2002, Rice’s debut album ''O'' was released in Ireland, the UK and the US. The album peaked at #8 on the UK albums chart and remained on the chart for 97 weeks, selling 650,000 copies in the USA. The album won the Shortlist music prize and the songs "Cannonball" and "Volcano" became top 30 hits in the UK.

In 2006 Rice released his second album ''9'' which was recorded during the two years prior. That year he also recorded at Abbey Road Studios for the program ''Live from Abbey Road''.

2007 was a year of heavy touring with Rice appearing at England's Glastonbury Festival and the Rock Werchter festival in Belgium. That same year he performed with David Gray at the UK leg at Wembley Stadium, London and played at the T in the Park music event in Scotland. Rice also performed at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, the V Festival in Stafford, Staffordshire, Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex and the Osheaga Festival in Montreal. He made additional appearances in Ireland and North America.

In 2010, Damien played at the Iceland Inspires concert held in Hljómskálagarðurinn near Reykjavík centrum.

Rice recorded a cover of the Juniper track, "Crosseyed Bear" for the compilation, ''Help: A Day in the Life''. Rice's albums are published under his record label Heffa (originally named DRM) in Ireland and Vector Records in North American. Records released in the UK, Europe and other countries are published by 14th Floor Records via Warner Music.

In spring 2011, Rice featured on the debut album by French actress and singer Melanie Laurent. He appears on two tracks on her debut album en t'attendant while collaborating on a total of five tracks which feature on the album.

Reception

''O'' received favorable reviews and scored 80 on the review aggregator Metacritic. A review in Allmusic said “the entire record makes the empty highway less lonely, the sunshine a little warmer, and life a little more poetic”, describing it as a “hopelessly beautiful record”. A review in the The Guardian called the album “gorgeous and understated”. Rolling Stone magazine review said the album contained “songs that, for all their quietness, leave a dark, lasting impression.” However, a review in Stylus said, “you can actually hear the moment when the album turns sour.”

In 2009, The Irish Times placed Rice at number thirty four in a list of "The Best 50 Irish Acts Right Now" calling him "the quiet one, the intense one, the singer-songwriter most revered by the other quiet and intense ones" and as "a most excruciatingly honest songwriter."

Rice's songs have been heard on numerous television shows including ''True Blood'', ''Hidden Palms'', ''Bones'', ''The Cleaner'', ''Jericho'', ''ER'', ''The Black Donnellys'', ''The OC, Alias'', ''Lost'', ''Huff'', ''Misfits'', ''Crossing Jordan'','' Grey's Anatomy'', ''Criminal Minds'', ''House'', ''Spin 1038'', ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'','' The Inbetweeners'', ''One Tree Hill'', and the Korean drama, ''Spring Waltz''.

Rice's songs have appeared in films such as ''Reservation Road'', ''Higher Ground'', ''Closer'', ''I am David'', ''Stay'', ''In Good Company'', ''The Girl in the Café'', ''Shrek the Third'' and ''Dear Frankie''.

His music is referenced in the novel The Suicide Club and his songs have been used in professional figure skating competitions.

Personal life

Rice participated in the Freedom Campaign, the Burma Campaign UK and the U.S. Campaign for Burma to free Burmese democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He campaigned for her release by writing and performing the song "Unplayed Piano" at the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo.

In 2008 he participated in a music album called Songs for Tibet in support of the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso and Tibet.

In 2010, he contributed the song "Lonely Soldier" to the Enough Project which supported women's rights in the Congo.

Discography

Studio albums

Year

Details

Peak chart positions

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2002

*Released: 1 February 2002

*Label: Vector

IRE">Music recording sales certification

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!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

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!width="25"

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2002

*Released: 1 February 2002

*Label: Vector

IRE: 10x Platinum

IFPI>NOR: Gold

British Phonographic Industry>UK: 3x Platinum

RIAA>US: Gold

2006

*Released: 3 November 2006

*Label: Heffa

*UK: Gold

Live albums

Year

Details

Peak chart positions

!width="25"

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!width="25"

''[[Live at Fingerprints Warts & All">Music recording sales certification

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

''[[Live at Fingerprints Warts & All''

*Released: 23 October 2007

Warner Bros. Records>Warner Bros.

''Live from the Union Chapel''

*Released: 26 November 2007

*Label: DRM/14th Floor

EPs

Year

Details

Peak chart positions

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!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

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2004

*Released: November 16, 2004

*Label: Vector

Singles

Date

Title

Peak chart positions

Album

!width="30"

!width="30"

!width="30"

!width="30"

September 21, 2001

"The Blower's Daughter"

rowspan="2"

May 17, 2002

March 17, 2003

"[[Woman Like a Man">Music recording sales certification

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

!width="25"

2004

*Released: November 16, 2004

*Label: Vector

Singles

Date	Title	Peak chart positions	Album
!width="30"	!width="30"	!width="30"	!width="30"
September 21, 2001	"The Blower's Daughter"					rowspan="2"
May 17, 2002
March 17, 2003	"[[Woman Like a Man"					Non-album track
October 11, 2003	"Volcano"					rowspan="2"
October 20, 2003
April 19, 2004	"Moody Mooday/Lonelily" (vinyl-only)
June 24, 2004	"Lonely Soldier" (with Christy Moore)
July 5, 2004	"Cannonball (re-mix)"
December 13, 2004	"The Blower's Daughter (re-issue)"
March 21, 2005	"Volcano (re-issue)"
June 20, 2005	"Unplayed Piano" (with Lisa Hannigan)					Non-album track
November 20, 2006	"9 Crimes"					rowspan="3"
February 5, 2007	"Rootless Tree"
September 17, 2007

Other contributions

''Eklektikos Live'' (2005) - "Volcano"

''Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project'' (2007) - "Creep"

Collaborations

''Be Yourself'', Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club (September 2002)

''Skylarkin''', Mic Christopher (November 2002)

"Get The Party Started" (cover version with Lisa Hannigan on ''Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 1'') (2003)

''Burn the Maps'', The Frames (September 2004)

''The Beekeeper'', Tori Amos (February 2005)

"Don't Explain", Herbie Hancock, Lisa Hannigan (August 2005)

''Live At The Olympia'', Aslan (2005 - official bootleg)

''The Swell Season'', Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (April 2006)

"Que Sera, Sera", David Gray on ''Live Earth - The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis'' (November 2007)

''Movin' On Up'', with 50 Cent on the album ''Night Shift: Live from Bonnaroo Festival' (recorded at the 2008 Bonnaroo Festival)

Rice and Lisa Hannigan appear on Herbie Hancock's ''Then and Now - The Definitive Herbie Hancock'', singing "Don't Explain"

''To Love Somebody'', Ray Lamontagne on ''Taratata'', a French TV show

"There Are Debts", David Hopkins on ''There Are Debts'' (December 2010)

Song ''Back to Beginning'' from Lamb's album ''5'' (2011)

See also

List of songs performed by Damien Rice

Juniper

References

External links

Damien Rice - Official website

Damien Rice - Official MySpace page

The Coconut Skins Community - The newest Damien Rice community

Rice, Damine Category:Irish male singers Category:Irish folk singers Category:Irish pop singers Category:Irish singer-songwriters Category:Irish record producers Category:Irish buskers Category:Winners of the Shortlist Music Prize Category:Living people Category:People from County Kildare

bo:ཏཱ་མིན་རོས་སེ། ca:Damien Rice cs:Damien Rice da:Damien Rice de:Damien Rice es:Damien Rice fr:Damien Rice ga:Damien Rice ko:데미안 라이스 it:Damien Rice he:דמיאן רייס nl:Damien Rice ja:ダミアン・ライス no:Damien Rice pl:Damien Rice pt:Damien Rice ru:Райс, Дэмьен simple:Damien Rice fi:Damien Rice sv:Damien Rice tr:Damien Rice zh:戴米恩·莱斯

name	Imelda May
background	solo_singer
birth name	Imelda Mary Clabby
birth date	July 10, 1974
origin	Dublin, Ireland
spouse	Darrell Higham (2002-present)
instrument	Vocals, bodhrán, guitar
genre	Rockabilly, blues, jazz
occupation	Singer, songwriter-composer
years active	2003–present
label	Foot Tapping, Ambassador (Universal Ireland)), Decca
website	}}

Imelda Mary Higham, Clabby (born 10 July 1974), known as Imelda May, is an Irish vocalist and musician. She began her career in music at 16 and released her debut album in 2005. She also plays the bodhrán and guitar. She won the Best Female Artist of the Year award at the 2009 Meteor Awards.

Early life and career

May was born in Dublin on 10 July 1974 in an area known as The Liberties. She is the youngest of five siblings, with sisters Edel Foy and Maria O'Reilly, and brothers Brendan Clabby and Fintan Clabby. Her early musical influences were Folk and Rock & Roll, especially the music of Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. By the age of nine, she was a fan of Rockabilly and Blues, particularly Elmore James and Billie Holiday. At fourteen, she sang in an advertisement for Findus Fish Fingers. However, her career began at age 16 when she began touring the Dublin club circuit and she was occasionally barred from her own shows at Dublin's Bruxelles club for being underage. "I was getting tips from the best musicians in Dublin," May said. "One of them said, 'your voice is great, but it needs to roughen.'" It was around this time, when driving a tearful Imelda to a gig after a boyfriend break-up her father asked her, "Is your heart broken? Excellent. Now you can sing the blues." After moving to the UK in 1998, May began singing with Blue Harlem and Mike Sanchez.

Professional career

May began her professional career in 2003, forming her band and releasing ''No Turning Back'' (Foot Tapping Records) under her maiden name, Imelda Clabby. Specializing in rockabilly music, the album was later re-recorded and re-issued by Foot Tapping Records under her married name in 2005.

In 2007, she joined a recording contract with Ambassador Records (a subsidiary of Foot Tapping Records), and recorded her second album. ''Love Tattoo'' reached No. 1 in Ireland and received wide critical acclaim. It caught the attention of Jools Holland, whom she later supported on tour, which led him to request that she appear on his well-known music show ''Later... with Jools Holland''. She was well received in the United Kingdom, performing to an audience that included Jeff Beck, Elbow, and Roots Manuva. Her first two singles, ''Johnny Got a Boom-Boom'' and ''Big Bad Handsome Man'', were released on 23 January 2009. She performed on Ireland's most popular television show, ''The Late Late Show''. She won Female Artist of the Year at the 2009 Meteor Awards. May has also toured the United States including, most recently, a tour with Jamie Cullum. On 14 August 2009, she appeared on RTÉ's ''Other Voices'' singing ''Johnny Got a Boom Boom'' and an unplugged version of ''Big Bad Handsome Man.'' thumb|250px|May at the Azkena Rock Festival, Spain, 2010 }}

On 31 January 2010, she performed at the 52nd Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck in tribute to Les Paul. After some promotional performances at festivals, such as the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, Netherlands, she released her third studio album, ''Mayhem'', in Ireland on September 3, 2010 — again reaching No. 1 in the Irish Album Charts — and in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2010. On July 18, 2011, May made her network television debut on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', performing "Mayhem," in promotion of the album's recent release in the U.S. and later appeared on ''Conan'' on August 8.

Imelda May has recently contributed a cover of Buddy Holly's "I'm Looking For Someone To Love" for the upcoming tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly to be released on September 6, 2011.

Performances with other artists

May has shared the stage with Wanda Jackson, Alison Moyet, Lou Reed, David Gilmore, Sharon Corr, The Supremes, Brian Setzer, The Dubliners, Madeleine Peyroux, Matt Bianco, Elvis Costello, Jools Holland, Jeff Beck and Meat Loaf . She has worked with producers Tony Visconti and Peter Asher. She also sings in The Candy Box Burlesque Club in Birmingham. She has appeared alongside The World Famous Palookaville! Burlesque Orchestra at every Candy Box show since it started in February 2006.

May has sung for the Flashmonkey burlesque band, a popular night at Cafe De Paris in London, also featuring trumpeter/composer Eacott.

In 2009, she recorded the official Children In Need single alongside Cara Dillon, Terry Wogan, Hayley Westenra, and others at Abbey Road Studios. In 2010, she participated on ''Emotion & Commotion'' by Jeff Beck, singing on the track ''Lilac Wine'' and also on the Japanese CD bonus track ''Poor Boy.'' On 11 November 2010, she appeared as a guest on BBC2's comedy panel music show, ''Never Mind The Buzzcocks''.

In 2010, she performed with Meat Loaf as part of the UK leg of his Hang Cool Tour. During 2011, she and her band toured with Jeff Beck.

In August 2011 she performed on Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and the Craig Ferguson show

Personal life

May is married to her guitarist and band member, Darrel Higham. She is a vegetarian.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"
2005		* Released: 2002 as Imelda Clabby, re-released in 2005 as Imelda May.	* Label: Foot Tapping Records	* Formats: CD	—	—
2008		* Released: October 20, 2008	Universal Records>Universal	* Formats: CD, Download	1	58
2010	style="text-align:left;"	* Released: October 4, 2010	* Label: Universal	* Formats: CD, Download	1	7

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
!style="width:4em"	!style="width:4em"
	"Johnny Got a Boom Boom"
"Big Bad Handsome Man"
	style="text-align:left;"

Band members

Imelda May – vocals, bodhrán

Al Gare – double bass, bass guitar

Steve Rushton – drums

Darrel Higham – guitar

Dave Priseman – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion, guitar

Awards and nominations

style="background:#B0C4DE;"	Year	Organisation	Nominated work	Award	Result
	2009 Meteor Awards		Imelda May	Best Irish Female
	RTÉ Radio 1	rowspan="2"	Album of the Year
	Choice Music Prize	Choice Music Prize

References

External links

Imelda May Album Review

No Turning Back (Imelda Clabby) Review

Blue Harlem (featuring Imelda May) Reviews

Music On-Air Interview

Liberation Frequency interview

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Irish female singers Category:Irish jazz singers Category:Music from Dublin (city) Category:People from Dublin (city) Category:Irish musicians Category:Rockabilly musicians

de:Imelda May es:Imelda May fr:Imelda May pt:Imelda May ru:Имельда Мэй

name	Ben Harper
background	solo_singer
birth name	Benjamin Chase Harper
spouse	Eva Stormzand
birth date	October 28, 1969Claremont, CaliforniaUnited States
instrument	Vocals, electric guitar, lap steel guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, piano, bass guitar, drums, percussion, vibes
genre	Folk rock, blues rock, alternative rock, soul, funk rock, gospel, reggae, jam rock, neofolk
occupation	Musician, Singer-songwriter, Humanitarian
years active	1992–present
label	Virgin, EMI Records
associated acts	Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of AlabamaRelentless7Vanessa da MataRingo StarrFistful of Mercy
notable instruments	Weissenborn lap steel guitar
website	www.benharper.com
spouse	Eva Stormzand (1997-present) }}

Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, 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, in California's Inland Empire. His father, Leonard, was of African-American and Cherokee ancestry, and his mother, Ellen Chase-Verdries, is Jewish. His maternal great-grandmother was a 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 and David Lindley and quotes of William Shakespeare and Robert Frost made often by his grandfather. 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. Next, Harper refined his style, taking up the Weissenborn slide guitar. Harper broke out of the Inland Empire after being offered an invitation by Taj Mahal to tour with the artist. They recorded Taj Mahal's album ''Follow the Drinking Gourd'', released in November 1990, and toured Hawaii.

Career

In 1992 Harper recorded the LP ''Pleasure and Pain'' with 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, which became a college radio favorite and included several songs that Harper still plays live regularly. His 1997 album ''The Will to Live'' was the first to feature his backup band the Innocent Criminals.

In 1999 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Harper met 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'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 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 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'', alongside his wife Laura Dern.

After several albums without the Innocent Criminals, Harper reconvened that band for the 2007 album, ''Lifeline'', which was recorded in Paris. Harper also covered John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" on the benefit CD ''Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur''. 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". Harper's collaboration "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" with Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata peaked at #1 in Brazil and Portugal. In Brazil it also won a highly coveted Prêmio Multishow for "Best Song" in 2008. Also in 2008, Harper participated in the benefit album ''Songs for Tibet''.

While recording ''Both Sides of the Gun'' in 2005, Harper met the members who would eventually form his new band, Relentless7, with Texas-based musicians Jason Mozersky (guitar), Jesse Ingalls (bass) and Jordan Richardson (drums). The album ''White Lies for Dark Times'', credited to Ben Harper and Relentless7, was released on May 4, 2009. On July 12, 2009, the band performed the closing concert of the 30th Montreal International Jazz Fest. On January 13, 2010, Harper and Relentless7 appeared on the ''Daily Show'' with Jon Stewart together with Ringo Starr to perform "Walk With You" and "With a Little Help from My Friends". On January 22, 2010, Harper appeared on the last episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien with Beck and Billy Gibbons playing a Will Ferrell-led rendition of "Freebird".

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.

Awards and nominations

! Year	Award ceremony>Award Show	! Award/Nomination
2003		''Artist of the Year''
2005	Grammy Award
2005	Grammy Award

Discography

Studio albums

+	Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;"
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"
!''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	—	94	—	11	—	—	—		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	—	34	—	39	7	—	—		* CAN: Platinum	* FRA: Gold
!''The Will to Live''		* Album by Ben Harper	* Released: June 17, 1997	* Label: Virgin Records	89	17	—	4	1	—	—		* AUS: Platinum	* FRA: Platinum
Burn to Shine (album)>Burn to Shine''		* Album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals	* Released: September 21, 1999	* Label: Virgin Records	67	2	34	2	5	—	—		* AUS: Platinum	* FRA: Platinum	RIANZ>NZ: Platinum
!''Diamonds on the Inside''		* Album by Ben Harper	* Released: March 11, 2003	* Label: Virgin Records	19	2	3	2	2	1	10		* 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	81	6	3	1	7	1	7		* AUS: Gold	* FRA: 2×Gold
!''Both Sides of the Gun''		* Album by Ben Harper	* March 21, 2006	* Label: Virgin Records	7	1	4	2	1	1	3		* AUS: Platinum	* CAN: Gold	* FRA: Platinum	* SWI: Gold	* NZ: Platinum
Lifeline (Ben Harper album)>Lifeline''		* Album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals	* Released: August 28, 2007	* Label: Virgin Records	9	7	1	1	6	1	5		* AUS: Gold	* FRA: Platinum	* SWI: Gold
!''White Lies for Dark Times''		* Album by Ben Harper and Relentless7	* Released: May 5, 2009	* Label: Virgin Records	9	17	7	6	11	7	23		* FRA: Gold
!''Give Till It's Gone''		* Album by Ben Harper	* Released: May 17, 2011	* Label: Virgin Records	15	9	6	3	13	2	25		* FRA: Gold

Live albums

+	Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;"
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"
!''Live from Mars''		* Album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals	* Released: 2001	* Label: Virgin Records	70	2	29	3	3	12	—		* AUS: 2×Platinum	* FRA: Gold	* NZ: Gold
Live at the 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	—	—	96	39	—	—	—	—
!''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	151	—	—	57	—	—	19	—

Other albums

+	Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"
!''As I Call You Down''		* Album by Fistful of Mercy	* Released: October 5, 2010	* Label: HOT Records	50	154

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." (1996)

"Gold to Me" (1996)

"Faded" (1997) #54 UK

"Jah Work" (1997)

"Glory & Consequence" (1997)

"Please Bleed" (1999)

"Burn to Shine" (1999)

"Forgiven" (2000)

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

"With My Own Two Hands" (2003)

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

"Brown Eyed Blues" (2004)

"Wicked Man" (2004)

"There Will Be a Light" (2004)

"Better Way" (2006)

"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" (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.

He can also be seen playing a slide guitar in the video for the song "Flake" by Jack Johnson.

Harper performed alongside Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and John Paul Jones at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2007. The jam session included songs by Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, and several Led Zeppelin hits.

Harper performed a cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles for the soundtrack of the film ''I Am Sam''.

He also appears on the 2003 Pearl Jam DVD ''Live at the Garden'' where Harper plays alongside friends Pearl Jam for the songs "Daughter" & "Indifference".

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals performed a cover of The Beatles' "Michelle" on the 2005 album ''This Bird Has Flown – A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul''.

Harper also performed at several "Vote Obama" rallies, including one at University of Colorado at Boulder.

Harper performed 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 is featured in the iPhone / iPod touch Application "Tap Tap Revenge 2" with his singles "Steal my Kisses" and "Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)."

Harper performed a cover of "My Father's House" by Bruce Springsteen for the album ''Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen''.

Harper was featured, alongside Jack Johnson, playing slide guitar with Toots and the Maytals, performing their 1970s reggae hit "Pressure Drop" on ''Saturday Night Live''.

Harper helped Conan O'Brien end his tenure on ''The Tonight Show'' by playing slide guitar on "Free Bird".

In 2006, Harper was featured on the song "Belief" on John Mayer's album Continuum.

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''.

His song "Suzie Blue" is currently featured in a Cadillac commercial.

In November 2010, his song "Amen Omen" from the album Diamonds on the Inside is featured in the episode "Katerina" of the TV show The Vampire Diaries.

DVDs

''Pleasure and Pain'' (2002)

''Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' (2003)

''Live at the Apollo'' (2005)

References

External links

Official Ben Harper Shop

Ben Harper Live for Earth Day on National Geographic

Ben Harper at RollingStone.com

Ben Harper on Twitter

Category:1969 births Category:African American musicians Category:African American rock musicians Category:American musicians of Russian descent Category:American blues singers Category:American folk guitarists Category:American folk singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock singers Category:American rock singer-songwriters Category:American people of Cherokee descent Category:American people of Russian descent Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Real World artists Category:Slide guitarists Category:Steel guitarists Category:Weissenborn players Category:American blues guitarists

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