Ben Harper
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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
.
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.
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.
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".
He also appears with Pearl Jam
during the song "Red Mosquito" from the Austin City Limits presentation their 2009 album Backspacer.
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
.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country 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
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winner as well, winning awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, in 2005.
Early life
Harper was born in ClaremontClaremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
, in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
. His father, Leonard, was of African-American and Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
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
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
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
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
and David Lindley
David Lindley (musician)
David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
and quotes of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
and Robert Frost
Robert Frost
Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and...
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
Weissenborn
Weissenborn or H. Weissenborn is a brand of lap slide guitar manufactured by Hermann Weissenborn in Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s....
slide guitar. Harper broke out of the Inland Empire after being offered an invitation by Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
to tour with the artist. They recorded Taj Mahal's album Follow the Drinking Gourd
Follow the Drinkin' Gourd
"Follow the Drinkin' Gourd" is an American folk song first published in 1928. The "Drinking Gourd" is another name for the Big Dipper asterism. Folklore has it that fugitive slaves in the United States used it as a point of reference so they would not get lost...
, released in November 1990, and toured Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Career
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
Pleasure and Pain with Folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
multi-instrumentalist Tom Freund
Tom Freund
Tom Freund is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the U.S.A.. Freund met Ben Harper when he was attending Pitzer College in Claremont, California. In 1992 the duo released an album, Pleasure and Pain. Not long after, he joined the alternative country group The Silos as their bassist,...
. After this limited edition record, Harper secured a record deal with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, which released his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World
Welcome to the Cruel World
Welcome to the Cruel World is Ben Harper's debut album from Virgin Records. Released in 1994, the album established Harper as a popular folk musician in the California area...
in 1994. This was followed by Fight For Your Mind
Fight for Your Mind
Fight for Your Mind is an album by Ben Harper. Released in August 1995, it was his last solo album before adding the Innocent Criminals to his line-up...
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
The Will to Live
The Will to Live , an album by Ben Harper which showed his continuing folk-centric focus, while at the same time expanding on his rock talents...
was the first to feature his backup band the Innocent Criminals.
In 1999 at the Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara Bowl
The Santa Barbara Bowl is a 4,562-seat amphitheater, located in Santa Barbara, California.It was carved into the hillside, in 1936, as a WPA project...
, Harper met Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (musician)
Jack Johnson was born May 18, 1975 is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. He has since released four more albums, a...
, 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.
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
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
Diamonds on the Inside
Diamonds On the Inside is Ben Harper's first work without crediting the Innocent Criminals in almost 10 years, although all the touring members continue to support him on the album. On this album, Harper brought on several new editions to his band, the first being guitarist Nicky Panicci in 2002...
was highly successful.
In 2002, Harper was one of the featured singers covering Motown hits by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
in the documentary, Standing in the Shadows of Motown (a history of The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
). In October 2004, Harper participated in the Vote for Change
Vote for Change
The Vote for Change tour was a politically-motivated American popular music concert tour that took place in October 2004. The tour was presented by MoveOn.org to benefit America Coming Together. The tour was held in swing states and was designed to encourage people to register and vote...
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
For the Lady
For The Lady is a benefit CD set dedicated to freeing Aung San Suu Kyi, the then-imprisoned Burmese opposition leader, and the people of Burma, released by Rhino Records on October 26, 2004. Sale proceeds of the double CD set go to the U.S...
, a benefit album for jailed Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
winner and Burmese pro-democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
advocate Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
. In 2006, Harper released the double album Both Sides of the Gun
Both Sides of the Gun
Both Sides of the Gun, is a Ben Harper album released in 2006. Split into two discs, the title suggests at the two sides of Harper's musical nature. The first disc is made of mostly acoustic and string-driven songs hinted at on the last track of Harper's previous album Diamonds on the Inside...
which debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. Though uncredited, he appears briefly in the 2006 David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
film Inland Empire
Inland Empire (film)
Inland Empire, sometimes styled as INLAND EMPIRE, is a 2006 mystery film written and directed by David Lynch. It was his first feature-length film since 2001's Mulholland Drive, and shares many similarities with that film. It premiered in Italy at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2006...
, alongside his wife Laura Dern
Laura Dern
Laura Elizabeth Dern is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk , Blue Velvet , Fat Man and Little Boy , Wild at Heart , Jurassic Park and October Sky...
.
After several albums without the Innocent Criminals, Harper reconvened that band for the 2007 album, Lifeline
Lifeline (Ben Harper album)
Lifeline is an album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. The album was recorded in Paris in the fall of 2006 after the lengthy European leg of the Both Sides of the Gun tour. Harper and the Innocent Criminals wrote the tracks while on tour and would rehearse the songs during sound checks while...
, which was recorded in Paris. Harper also covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's "Beautiful Boy
Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
"Beautiful Boy " is a song written and performed by John Lennon. It was released on the 1980 album Double Fantasy, the last album by Lennon and Ono released before his death....
" on the benefit CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a compilation album of various artists covering songs of John Lennon to benefit Amnesty International's campaign to alleviate the crisis in Darfur...
. Harper is part of the No Nukes group which is against the expansion of nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
. In 2007 the group recorded a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of a new version of the Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
song "For What It's Worth". Harper's collaboration "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" with Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata
Vanessa da Mata
Vanessa da Mata - with full name Vanessa Sigiane da Mata Ferreira - is a Latin Grammy Award-winning Brazilian MPB singer, songwriter...
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
Relentless7
Relentless7 is an American rock band formed in 2008 by singer/guitarist Ben Harper. The current members are Harper , Jason Mozersky , Jesse Ingalls , and Jordan Richardson .-History:...
, with Texas-based musicians Jason Mozersky (guitar), Jesse Ingalls (bass) and Jordan Richardson (drums). The album White Lies for Dark Times
White Lies for Dark Times
-Deluxe Edition DVD:-Charts:-Personnel:*Ben Harper - vocals/slide guitar*Jason Mozersky - guitar*Jesse Ingalls - bass*Jordan Richardson - drums...
, 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
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
to perform "Walk With You
Walk With You
"Walk with You" is a song by Ringo Starr, released as a single from his 15th studio album Y Not. It features fellow former Beatle Paul McCartney on backing vocals...
" and "With a Little Help from My Friends
With a Little Help from My Friends
-Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction...
". On January 22, 2010, Harper appeared on the last episode of The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
with Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
with Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
and Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
playing a Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
-led rendition of "Freebird
Freebird
Freebird may refer to:* Free Bird - The rock anthem by American band Lynyrd Skynyrd* Freebird - The 2008 film by Jon Ivay* Freebird Airlines - The Turkish airline...
".
On August 27, 2010, it was reported that Ben Harper had formed a band called Fistful of Mercy
Fistful of Mercy
Fistful of Mercy is a rock group consisting of Dhani Harrison, Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur.-History:The band formed in February 2010, when Arthur asked Harper to accompany him in the studio; Harper then asked Harrison, whom he had met at a skate park in Santa Monica, California, to accompany them...
with Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison is an English musician and the son of George Harrison of The Beatles and Olivia Harrison. Harrison debuted as a professional musician when completing his father's final album Brainwashed after George Harrison's death in November 2001...
and Joseph Arthur
Joseph Arthur
Joseph Arthur is an American singer-songwriter and artist from Akron, Ohio. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically acclaimed releases and constant touring; his unique solo live performances incorporate the use of a...
. 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.
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
Laura Dern
Laura Elizabeth Dern is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk , Blue Velvet , Fat Man and Little Boy , Wild at Heart , Jurassic Park and October Sky...
. 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 Show Award ceremony An awards ceremony is an event and television programming genre where an award, of any type, is given to a person or people. Ceremonies are usually held at night, with guests wearing formal gowns and suits. They also usually have a host, with many categories for the awards. In the event that there... |
Award Award An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons... /Nomination Nomination Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to an office, or the bestowing of an honor or award.In the context of elections for public office, a candidate who has been selected by a political party is normally said to be the nominee of that party... |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Rolling Stone (France) | Artist of the Year |
| 2005 | Grammy Award Grammy Award A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry... |
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance |
| 2005 | Grammy Award | Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album |
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
POR Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa The Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa is currently the only recording industry association in Portugal. Created in 1989, it succeeded GPPFV and UNEVA .... |
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| Pleasure and Pain |
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| Welcome to the Cruel World Welcome to the Cruel World Welcome to the Cruel World is Ben Harper's debut album from Virgin Records. Released in 1994, the album established Harper as a popular folk musician in the California area... |
Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... |
— | 94 | — | 11 | — | — | — |
ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... : Gold Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... : Gold |
| Fight for Your Mind Fight for Your Mind Fight for Your Mind is an album by Ben Harper. Released in August 1995, it was his last solo album before adding the Innocent Criminals to his line-up... |
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— | 34 | — | 39 | 7 | — | — |
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| The Will to Live The Will to Live The Will to Live , an album by Ben Harper which showed his continuing folk-centric focus, while at the same time expanding on his rock talents... |
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89 | 17 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — |
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| Burn to Shine |
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67 | 2 | 34 | 2 | 5 | — | — |
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| Diamonds on the Inside Diamonds on the Inside Diamonds On the Inside is Ben Harper's first work without crediting the Innocent Criminals in almost 10 years, although all the touring members continue to support him on the album. On this album, Harper brought on several new editions to his band, the first being guitarist Nicky Panicci in 2002... |
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19 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa The Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa is currently the only recording industry association in Portugal. Created in 1989, it succeeded GPPFV and UNEVA .... : Silver |
| There Will Be a Light There Will Be a Light There Will Be a Light is a gospel album by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama, released in 2004.This album would go on to pick up a Grammy award for Best Gospel album while Harper would also win a Grammy for the track, "11th Commandment."... |
The Blind Boys of Alabama The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind at Talladega, Alabama in 1939. The three main vocalists of the group and their drummer/percussionist are all blind.... |
81 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
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| Both Sides of the Gun Both Sides of the Gun Both Sides of the Gun, is a Ben Harper album released in 2006. Split into two discs, the title suggests at the two sides of Harper's musical nature. The first disc is made of mostly acoustic and string-driven songs hinted at on the last track of Harper's previous album Diamonds on the Inside... |
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7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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| Lifeline Lifeline (Ben Harper album) Lifeline is an album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. The album was recorded in Paris in the fall of 2006 after the lengthy European leg of the Both Sides of the Gun tour. Harper and the Innocent Criminals wrote the tracks while on tour and would rehearse the songs during sound checks while... |
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9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
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| White Lies for Dark Times White Lies for Dark Times -Deluxe Edition DVD:-Charts:-Personnel:*Ben Harper - vocals/slide guitar*Jason Mozersky - guitar*Jesse Ingalls - bass*Jordan Richardson - drums... |
Relentless7 Relentless7 is an American rock band formed in 2008 by singer/guitarist Ben Harper. The current members are Harper , Jason Mozersky , Jesse Ingalls , and Jordan Richardson .-History:... |
9 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 23 |
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| Give Till It's Gone Give Till It's Gone -Charts:-Certifications:... |
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15 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 25 |
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Live albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
POR Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa The Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa is currently the only recording industry association in Portugal. Created in 1989, it succeeded GPPFV and UNEVA .... |
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| Live from Mars Live from Mars Live From Mars is a two disc live concert release from Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals which takes tracks from unnamed venues throughout his 2000 tour and places them on either an electric or acoustic disc... |
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70 | 2 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 12 | — |
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| Live at the Apollo Live at the Apollo (Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama) Live at the Apollo was a concert by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama filmed at the Apollo Theater , on October 12, 2004 and released as a DVD and a CD.The DVD was released on March 29, 2005 and the CD on March 14, 2005.... |
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— | — | 96 | 39 | — | — | — | — |
| Live at Twist & Shout |
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| Live from the Montreal International Jazz Festival |
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151 | — | — | 57 | — | — | 19 | — |
Other albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
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| As I Call You Down As I Call You Down As I Call You Down is the debut album by American rock supergroup Fistful of Mercy, released on October 5, 2010.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Dhani Harrison - lead, harmony, and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards... |
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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 UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
- "Jah Work" (1997)
- "Glory & Consequence" (1997)
- "Please Bleed" (1999)
- "Burn to Shine" (1999)
- "Forgiven" (2000)
- "Steal My KissesSteal My Kisses"Steal My Kisses" is a single by American singer Ben Harper released in 2000.The beat of the title song is formed with mouth noises by Rahzel.-Track listings:#"Steal My Kisses"#"Number Three" #"By My Side"...
" (2000) #15 U.S. Adult Top 40 - "With My Own Two HandsWith My Own Two Hands"With My Own Two Hands" is a single from Ben Harper's 2003 release Diamonds on the Inside.The lyrics focus on the how changes in the world can come about when a single person decides to take action. This song, which features an up-tempo reggae groove was played in regular rotation on European radio...
" (2003) - "Diamonds On the InsideDiamonds On The Inside (song)"Diamonds On the Inside" was the second single released from the album Diamonds On the Inside by Ben Harper.The song was ranked #18 on the Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2003.-Track list:# "Diamonds On the Inside" - 3:45...
" (2003) #31 U.S. Adult Top 40 - "Brown Eyed Blues" (2004)
- "Wicked Man" (2004)
- "There Will Be a Light" (2004)
- "Better WayBetter Way"Better Way" is a song by singer-songwriter Ben Harper. It is the first track on disc two of his 2006 album Both Sides of the Gun, and was released as the album's first single. A live version of the song appears on Songs for Tibet: The Art of Peace, a compilation album by various artists supporting...
" (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 MataVanessa da MataVanessa da Mata - with full name Vanessa Sigiane da Mata Ferreira - is a Latin Grammy Award-winning Brazilian MPB singer, songwriter...
) #1 Portugal; #1 Brazil - "In The Colors" (2008)
- "Fool For A Lonesome Train" (2008)
- "Shimmer & Shine" (2009)
- "Fly One TimeFly One Time"Fly One Time" is a song by singer-songwriter Ben Harper and rock band Relentless7. It is the seventh track on their 2009 album White Lies for Dark Times, and was released as the album's second single...
" (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 guitarSlide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
version of the "Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 3 of the 2007 NBA Finals
2007 NBA Finals
The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland...
on June 12 in Cleveland.
He can also be seen playing a slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
in the video for the song "Flake" by Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (musician)
Jack Johnson was born May 18, 1975 is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. He has since released four more albums, a...
.
Harper performed alongside Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
at the Bonnaroo Music Festival
Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It hosted its tenth annual event June 9–12, 2011...
in 2007. The jam session included songs by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
, and several Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
hits.
Harper performed a cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever
Strawberry Fields Forever
"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and attributed to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. It was inspired by Lennon's memories of playing in the garden of a Salvation Army house named "Strawberry Field" near his childhood home."Strawberry Fields...
" by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
for the soundtrack of the film I Am Sam
I Am Sam
I Am Sam is a 2001 American drama film written and directed by Jessie Nelson, and starring Sean Penn as a father with a developmental disability, Dakota Fanning as his inquisitive seven-year-old daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer...
.
He also appears on the 2003 Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
DVD Live at the Garden
Live at the Garden
Live at the Garden is the fourth DVD release by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, recorded on July 8, 2003 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was released on November 11, 2003.-Overview:...
where Harper plays alongside friends Pearl Jam for the songs "Daughter
Daughter (song)
"Daughter" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released in 1993 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Vs. . Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist Stone Gossard. The...
" & "Indifference".
He also appears with Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
during the song "Red Mosquito" from the Austin City Limits presentation their 2009 album Backspacer.
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals performed a cover of The Beatles' "Michelle
Michelle (song)
"Michelle" is a love ballad by The Beatles, mainly written by Paul McCartney, with the middle eight co-written with John Lennon. It is featured on their Rubber Soul album. The song departs from most of The Beatles' other recordings in that some of the lyrics are in French...
" 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
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
.
Harper performed on the Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
show Outlaws & Angels.
Harper teamed with the Skatalites
The Skatalites
The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
to perform Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
's "Be My Guest" on Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino is a 2007 tribute album by various artists to Fats Domino, issued by Vanguard Records.-History:In contrast to an earlier tribute album, That's Fats: A Tribute to Fats Domino , which mostly contained previously released cover versions, Goin' Home: A Tribute to...
.
Harper is featured in the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
/ iPod touch
IPod touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
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
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
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
Pressure Drop (song)
"Pressure Drop" is a song recorded in 1969 by The Maytals for producer Leslie Kong. The song appears on their 1970 album Monkey Man and From the Roots...
" on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
.
Harper helped Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
end his tenure on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
by playing slide guitar on "Free Bird
Free Bird
"Free Bird" is a song by the American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
".
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
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
in support of the Beatles drummer's self-produced album, Y Not
Y Not
-Reception:Reviews for Y Not were mostly mixed. Review aggregator Metacritic, which assigns a score out of 100 based on critic ratings, rated the album 60 out of 100, based on 11 reviews...
.
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
Diamonds on the Inside
Diamonds On the Inside is Ben Harper's first work without crediting the Innocent Criminals in almost 10 years, although all the touring members continue to support him on the album. On this album, Harper brought on several new editions to his band, the first being guitarist Nicky Panicci in 2002...
is featured in the episode "Katerina" of the TV show The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is a young adult vampire horror series of novels written by L. J. Smith. The story centers around Elena Gilbert, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. The series was originally a trilogy published in 1991, but pressure from readers led Smith to write a fourth...
.
DVDs
- Pleasure and Pain (2002)
- Live at the Hollywood Bowl (2003)
- Live at the Apollo (2005)