Vassal Benford
Encyclopedia
Vassal Gradington Benford III (born February 2, 1967) is an American record producer, executive and music industry executive. His body of work has included 57 Platinum Records awarded by the RIAA certified, 8 Grammy Nominations, 11 Film Scores, 4 Television Syndications, Awards include a Grammy, several R&B awards, and a Juno Pop award. Pop songwriter of the year awards, Producer of the year awards. Vassal Benford has been producing music professionally since the early-1990s. His production has helped create career-defining hits for artists such as Toni Braxton
, Debra Cox, Jade
, and Chante Moore
. Vassal has producing over 150 albums throughout his career. These albums have generated over $400 million in revenue for such companies as Arista
, LA Face, Sony
, Universal
, Motown, BMG
, RCA
, Mercury
, EMI
, and Polygram
.
and Berry Gordy
. By age 16, Benford was found working with stars like Earl Klugh
, The Doobie Brothers
, Michael Henderson
, Miles Davis
, Oscar Peterson
, Roger Trotman, The Dramatics
, and George Clinton and Parliament. During this time at USRS, Benford produced/wrote/played keyboards on his first 2 records that became Platinum. The two records were named The Two of Us
recorded by Nancy Wilson and Ramsy Lewis (this song was number one on Adult Contemporary chart and Jazz chart) and Fall Down
(a gospel record) by Tramaine Hawkins went number 1 for 27 weeks on the Dance charts. Both of these songs came out on the same week and went number one on the charts at the same time in two different genres of music.
Benford graduated East Catholic High school in Detroit and pursued his Associates Degree in Music Studies from Michigan State University
and was awarded a scholarship to the Switzerland Conservatory in Europe where he studied under the tutelage of Professor Harold McKinney. Here, Vassal studied Music Counter-Point with Professor Don Nikeloff. Benford returned to his home state of Michigan and continued working in Detroit and was awarded the Key to the City of Detroit by the City Council and the Honorable Judge Greg Mathis (now a famous television personality).
, Mariah Carey
, Sheryl Crow
, Lil Kim, Queen Latifah
, Patti Labelle
, Faith Evans
, Chante Moore
, Oleta Adams
, Tisha Campbell, and Lisa Stansfield
. Deborah Cox was Benford's multi-platinum discovery and also artist on his Arista distributed Vaz Records with her second hit single "Who do you love" from her self titled debut album that was certified gold and platinum and became a club hit as well, the first single was the Dallas Austin produced and co-written # 4 pop "Sentimental". Benford Dominated the Hot 100 Pop charts prior to success with Cox making history with the hit single " Don't Walk Away" performed by the female trio JADE. Holding the #1 chart position longer than any single ever performed by a group or duo for 39 long weeks.
Benford was appointed President/CEO, given his own imprint (Vaz/Arista), at Arista
by Clive Davis
(Arista's Chairman/CEO) where he signed his first joint-venture and signed the now Platinum artist Deborah Cox. Benford then signed with his second label imprint, Vaz/Mercury with Danny Goldberg (Chairman of Mercury Records
). From here, Benford was appointed Vice President of Motown Records West Coast Division by George Jackson (President) and Clarence Avant (Chairman) of Motown Records. Benford was given his own imprint called Vaz/Motown.
Benford teamed up again with Danny Goldberg and signed a distribution deal with Artemis Records where they became the #1 independent label in the world with the hit Who Let The Dogs Out performed by singing group The Baha Men. The Baha Men is currently signed to Benford's recording label Paradigm Music Group. Later that year, Benford signed a distribution deal with music executive Michael Blaky and EMI Records. Currently, Benford has re-signed with Universal Publishing Group.
. He also worked on films and TV syndications; such as Running Man
, New Jack City
, Class Act
, The Associate
, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210
and FAME LA. Benford began Executive producing Independent films in 2007. The first film ventures for Benford were titled Double Tap and Without Fear starring Fabian Carrillo. Benford then partnered with film producer Mark Canton and have been working to create Paradigm Motion Pictures.
Benford has recently collaborated with Super Star Producer R. Kelly
, Charlie Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton
, Baha Men (Who Let The Dogs Out) Mega Hip Hop Producer Swizz Beats, and rapper Cassidy. As of year 2009 Vassal Benford expanded his talents and companies as well as he began producing, scoring, and distributing feature films. Benford is presently Executive producing feature films starring actors Billy Bob Thornton
, Hilary Duff
, and Winona Ryder
. Benford resides presently as Chairman/CEO of Paradigm Motion Pictures with partner and film Producer Mark Canton producer of the Box Office Blockbuster film 300. Vassal and Mark met on the set of the film New Jack City.
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
, Debra Cox, Jade
Jade
Jade is an ornamental stone.The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:...
, and Chante Moore
Chanté Moore
Chanté Moore is an American R&B and jazz singer.-Biography:Born to a gospel minister, she grew up singing in the church and was heavily influenced by the music of George Duke and Lee Ritenour. While in high school, she decided to make a career of singing...
. Vassal has producing over 150 albums throughout his career. These albums have generated over $400 million in revenue for such companies as Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, LA Face, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, Motown, BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, and Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
.
Early life and career: The Detroit Years
Benford was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Margaret Simone Benford and Henry Benford. He was given the name Vassal Gradington Benford III after the doctor who saved his mother’s life and his own life during childbirth in honor of the heroic work this man had performed. Vassal was raised in one of the United States' most poverty stricken and dangerous neighborhoods of Detroit, MI during the 1970s. Vassal was considered a child prodigy and started playing piano at age four. Vassal began playing Classical and Jazz music shortly thereafter. At age 13, Vassal started working as an intern, played keyboards, and programmed synthesizers on some of the biggest platinum albums of the time. During his teens, Vassal made his mark working at the world-famous United Sounds Recording Studio founded by Don DavisDon Davis (composer)
Donald Romain Davis is an American film score composer, conductor, and orchestrator. Best known for his work on The Matrix, he has worked on a variety of films, from horror to comedy.- Early life :...
and Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
. By age 16, Benford was found working with stars like Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
, The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, Michael Henderson
Michael Henderson
Michael Henderson is an American bass guitarist and vocalist best known for his bass playing with Miles Davis in the early 1970s, on early fusion albums such as A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Pangaea, and Live-Evil.- Biography :He was one of the first notable bass guitarists of the fusion era as well...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
, Roger Trotman, The Dramatics
The Dramatics
The Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs "In the Rain" and "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get", both of which were #1 R&B and Top 10 Pop hits.-Career:The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 recording as the...
, and George Clinton and Parliament. During this time at USRS, Benford produced/wrote/played keyboards on his first 2 records that became Platinum. The two records were named The Two of Us
The Two of Us
-External links:* at the Phill.co.uk Comedy Guide...
recorded by Nancy Wilson and Ramsy Lewis (this song was number one on Adult Contemporary chart and Jazz chart) and Fall Down
Fall Down
"Fall Down" is a single by alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. The song is included on their 1994 album Dulcinea. "Fall Down" was co-written by Glen Phillips and Todd Nichols...
(a gospel record) by Tramaine Hawkins went number 1 for 27 weeks on the Dance charts. Both of these songs came out on the same week and went number one on the charts at the same time in two different genres of music.
Benford graduated East Catholic High school in Detroit and pursued his Associates Degree in Music Studies from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and was awarded a scholarship to the Switzerland Conservatory in Europe where he studied under the tutelage of Professor Harold McKinney. Here, Vassal studied Music Counter-Point with Professor Don Nikeloff. Benford returned to his home state of Michigan and continued working in Detroit and was awarded the Key to the City of Detroit by the City Council and the Honorable Judge Greg Mathis (now a famous television personality).
Mid Life and career: The Los Angeles Years
Benford moved to Los Angeles, CA in the early 1990s and began working with Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, The Jackson 5, Surface and The Jets. Vassal's introduction into the "Fast Track” of success started with Producer, Quincy Jones and Universal Record Executive Louil Silas Jr. He began working with such acts like: Toni BraxtonToni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Lil Kim, Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, Patti Labelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
, Chante Moore
Chanté Moore
Chanté Moore is an American R&B and jazz singer.-Biography:Born to a gospel minister, she grew up singing in the church and was heavily influenced by the music of George Duke and Lee Ritenour. While in high school, she decided to make a career of singing...
, Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams
Oleta Adams is an American soul, jazz, and gospel singer and pianist.-Biography:Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.Before gaining her opportunity to perform,...
, Tisha Campbell, and Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield is an English singer and songwriter.-Early years:Stansfield was born to Marion and Keith Stansfield in Heywood, Lancashire, in England, where she attended Redbrook School, Rochdale. Her first television appearance was on a talent programme in the Granada TV area in 1982...
. Deborah Cox was Benford's multi-platinum discovery and also artist on his Arista distributed Vaz Records with her second hit single "Who do you love" from her self titled debut album that was certified gold and platinum and became a club hit as well, the first single was the Dallas Austin produced and co-written # 4 pop "Sentimental". Benford Dominated the Hot 100 Pop charts prior to success with Cox making history with the hit single " Don't Walk Away" performed by the female trio JADE. Holding the #1 chart position longer than any single ever performed by a group or duo for 39 long weeks.
Benford was appointed President/CEO, given his own imprint (Vaz/Arista), at Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
by Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
(Arista's Chairman/CEO) where he signed his first joint-venture and signed the now Platinum artist Deborah Cox. Benford then signed with his second label imprint, Vaz/Mercury with Danny Goldberg (Chairman of Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
). From here, Benford was appointed Vice President of Motown Records West Coast Division by George Jackson (President) and Clarence Avant (Chairman) of Motown Records. Benford was given his own imprint called Vaz/Motown.
Benford teamed up again with Danny Goldberg and signed a distribution deal with Artemis Records where they became the #1 independent label in the world with the hit Who Let The Dogs Out performed by singing group The Baha Men. The Baha Men is currently signed to Benford's recording label Paradigm Music Group. Later that year, Benford signed a distribution deal with music executive Michael Blaky and EMI Records. Currently, Benford has re-signed with Universal Publishing Group.
Current Projects: The Paradigm Years
Benford's interest in film started in the early 1990s where he began working with Director/Producer George Jackson and Doug McHency. Benford’s first film music score was the comedy House Party 2House Party 2
House Party 2, the sequel to the 1990 film House Party, was released in 1991 by New Line Cinema. The sequel returns most of the cast of the first movie along with new cast members such as Queen Latifah and Iman. The second installment includes more guest appearances from other famous entertainers...
. He also worked on films and TV syndications; such as Running Man
The Running Man (film)
The Running Man is a 1987 American action film loosely based on Stephen King's 1982 novel of the same name. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown, and Richard Dawson....
, New Jack City
New Jack City
New Jack City is a 1991 crime film starring Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson, and Chris Rock. Snipes stars as Nino Brown, a rising drug dealer and crime lord in New York City during the crack epidemic...
, Class Act
Class Act
Class Act is a 1992 comedy film, directed by Randall Miller and starring hip-hop duo Kid 'n Play. An urban retelling of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, the screenplay is by Cynthia Friedlob and John Semper from a story by Michael Swerdlick, Richard Brenne and Wayne Allan Rice...
, The Associate
The Associate
The Associate is a 1996 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Dianne Wiest, Eli Wallach, Timothy Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Austin Pendleton and Lainie Kazan...
, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
and FAME LA. Benford began Executive producing Independent films in 2007. The first film ventures for Benford were titled Double Tap and Without Fear starring Fabian Carrillo. Benford then partnered with film producer Mark Canton and have been working to create Paradigm Motion Pictures.
Benford has recently collaborated with Super Star Producer R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
, Charlie Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, Baha Men (Who Let The Dogs Out) Mega Hip Hop Producer Swizz Beats, and rapper Cassidy. As of year 2009 Vassal Benford expanded his talents and companies as well as he began producing, scoring, and distributing feature films. Benford is presently Executive producing feature films starring actors Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
, and Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder is an American actress. She made her film debut in the 1986 film Lucas. Ryder's first significant role came in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice as a goth teenager, which won her critical and commercial recognition...
. Benford resides presently as Chairman/CEO of Paradigm Motion Pictures with partner and film Producer Mark Canton producer of the Box Office Blockbuster film 300. Vassal and Mark met on the set of the film New Jack City.
External links
- http://www.vassalbenford.com/
- http://www.paradigmmotionpictures.com/
- http://www.paradigmspecialprojects.com/