In the late 1980s, Folds (as a bassist) formed the band Majosha with longtime friends Evan Olson, Millard Powers, and Eddie Walker. Career Majosha and early career īen Folds (second from right) in a promotional photo for Majosha. Folds would acknowledge the impact of Darnell on his appreciation of music in his 2019 memoir A Dream About Lightning Bugs. It was while studying at UNCG that he met his 'accidental mentor', Robert Darnell. "I suppose that did something." Īfter leaving Miami, he returned to North Carolina and enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for the fall semester of 1985. "I spent maybe six months just running scales with a metronome like a freak," Folds said. He devoted a lot of time to working on piano technique. įolds attended the University of Miami's Frost School of Music on a full percussion scholarship, but dropped out after having failed 'the jury' and losing his scholarship. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, Folds played in several bands as the pianist, bassist, or drummer. During this time, Folds listened to songs by Elton John and Billy Joel on AM radio, and learned them by ear. His father, a carpenter, brought one home through a barter trade with a customer who was unable to pay. He became interested in piano at age nine. Early life and education įolds was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. In July 2019, Folds published his first book, a memoir, titled A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons. In addition to contributing music to the soundtracks of the animated films Hoodwinked!, and Over the Hedge, Folds has produced several albums, including Amanda Palmer's first solo album.įolds was a judge on the NBC a cappella singing contest The Sing-Off from 2009 to 2013. įolds has frequently performed arrangements of his music with uncommon instrumentation, including symphony orchestras and a cappella groups. Since May 2017, he has been the first artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He has also collaborated with musicians such as William Shatner, Regina Spektor, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and yMusic, and undertaken experimental songwriting projects with authors such as Nick Hornby and Neil Gaiman. ![]() ![]() He has recorded a number of solo albums and performed live as a solo artist. Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock trio Ben Folds Five from 1993 to 2000, and again in the early 2010s during their reunion. Benjamin Scott Folds (born September 12, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |