Ben Harper - Topic

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Ben Harper was born on October 28, 1969 and his music and career embodies the sonic bravery, brilliance, lyrical honesty and abiding social activism of that pivotal time. Harper's protest singer roots are deep and generational. His grandfather was persecuted for being a communist. Harassed by local authorities the family migrated west and became fixtures of a thriving Southern California folk scene. Harper learned guitar at the family music store frequented by artists such as Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry, Doc Watson, John Fahey, Leonard Cohen, Jackson Browne, and others. By the time he was 21, he was touring with international music legend Taj Mahal. In the ensuing years he would record sixteen albums, amass a worldwide following selling over 15 million records worldwide and win three Grammy Awards. He would also produce works for Mavis Staples, Rickie Lee Jones, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Natalie Maines, and others, and he has recorded with a diverse roster of artists ranging from John Lee Hooker, Solomon Burke and Jack Johnson to Ringo Starr, Keith Richards and Harry Styles. In 2020, Harper launched his own record label, Mad Bunny Records. July 2022 saw Harper release his next record, the political and personally revealing, fearless and soulful Bloodline Maintenance. The first single "We Need To Talk About It," was released June 15th.