Birmingham, Alabama
Singer-Songwriter

writer profile >

"Always Inspire to Aspire Before You Expire"

BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Music in New Orleans. Learned from Johnny Rivers when a small child and thats when the fever hit. After college went into the concert and tour business and our company ended up being Clear Channel/Live Nation. Incredible business and am so grateful I got to do that for my career. You have 2 things in that business real friends (You know not posers) and 2 ethics, that is all you get and that's OK. Part of the ethics are you protect the artist YOU DON'T pitch material to them, that is a career ending move in most cases, so I did not. But now after retiring 25 years later, I write, write and write and pitch my butt off. I so love the music business it has given me an incredible life,. an incredible home and a living for my family and great retirement and this opportunity to WRITE,WRITE and WRITE !! I know some producers and have pitched to them, but my material I believe is absolutely COUNTRY and I keep my recordings simple, not a lot of extra's, producers aren't looking for those, they want to hear a great basic song and they hear what they want to add or subtract, so I try, again try to keep my songs like a producer would want to hear them. I write about occasions, feelings, coincidences, love and anything you can find in life. I love people, am open minded especially about writing. Look forward to the friends and associates I will find here ! Rock On, Peace !

LEVEL

professional

GENRES

Country, Alternative Country, Alternative Rock

Contact

Management: www.BENin10D.com
Label: BEN in 10D Records
Music Supervisor: A. Joseph
Booking: www.BENin10D.com
Administrative: www.BENin10D.com

P.R.O.

BMI

INSTRUMENTS

b3 organ / banjo / bass / bongos / congas / drums / guijo / acoustic guitar / electric guitar / harmonica / keyboard / percussion / piano / saxophone / trombone / vocals

INFLUENCES

Early age, Jethro Tull, Allman Brothers, Grand Funk Railroad, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones as I got older I moved from a city environment to a country setting and all the twang I swore I could never like I came to love. I came to knwo amny country artist like Tim McGraw, Randy Travis and found many of the country artist are as close to real people as anyone can be. Still love a great Rock song, however my writing seems to lean toward ballads.

DAY JOB

Retired From Clear Channel/Live Nation - Promoter - Director of Production Southeast

I AM INTERESTED IN

in co writing online
in co writing in person
in networking with songwriters
in pitching songs to artist
in pitching songs to tv
in getting a record deal
in getting a publishing deal

I WRITE:

For a living

I Also Write:
by myself

I Prefer To Write:
lyrics
melody
music

experience >

SONG PLACEMENTS

America on CNN by Joe Benintende on 9/14/2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7LqN2JcU34

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Finalist - VH1 Song of The Year - 2008, 2009 5 X Platinum Album "Celebrity" *NSYNC (really ) AMERICA on CNN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7LqN2JcU34

OTHER SONG OR ALBUM CREDITS

" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7LqN2JcU34 " Edited CNN version now on You Tube at this link. America, this country that we live in - - Was written for and on 9/11 and by grace of GOD one day later was able to perform in front of 7000 people live at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre for Presidents Day of Prayer, it was televised and aired on CNN live around the world, we are told to 10 million people. When I was performing, I did not know it was being televised, (Heck, I was producing the live event) and did not plan to sing the song and at the last minute was asked by the Governor to perform it, I had to call and have my wife rush me clothes and my guitar. As I walked off stage and began to change my clothes back into "event" clothes, my cell phone rang and my cousin in Sicily had just seen me on TV and believe it ornot as my wife and I travel even today, people actuallly come up and ask if that was me, amazing this many years later, amazing. I was so proud and humbled. I love this country and only wish to help and I truly hope this song helped some American heal just a tiny bit, if nothing else. I still desire to use this song to help our military men and women or their families. That truly trumps any award. " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7LqN2JcU34 "

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