Ben Folds

Biography

American singer, songwriter, and producer Ben Folds emerged within the mid-’90s because the leader of the energy pop trio Ben Folds Five, before impressive out on an effective solo career. Carrying out a past due-’80s stint playing bass for the music group Majosha, the NEW YORK native spent many years in Nashville operating largely like a program drummer. Folds dabbled in performing after relocating to NY, while performing single gigs around the town and additional developing his piano and songwriting abilities. Moving back again to NEW YORK, in 1994 Folds created Ben Folds Five, a trio that also included bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee. Whereas many alternative bands from the ’90s specialised in distorted teen-angst rock and roll, the guitarless trio was a relaxing break from typical, its sound comparable to such previous power popsters as Todd Rundgren, Jellyfish, and early Joe Jackson, and such piano-driven performers as Billy Joel and early Elton John. But like punk rings, Ben Folds Five placed on a high-energy, blistering live display. Their self-titled debut found its way to 1995 on Caroline Information, yielding their initial cult strike, “Underground.” With some help from MTV’s 120 A few minutes and a lot of touring, the music group generated enough buzz to property a cope with Epic Information, which released their follow-up. Released in 1997, Whatever and Ever Amen became Ben Folds Five’s industrial breakthrough, thanks partly to the one “Brick.” Unlike nearly all Ben Folds Five’s materials, that was upbeat, the tune included melancholic music and vocals, because the lyrics informed the story of the teenage few who decides to obtain an abortion, a tale later verified by Folds to become autobiographical. Eventually heading platinum within the U.S., Whatever also fared likewise abroad, especially in Australia and Japan. While 1998 didn’t visit a brand-new studio record by the music group, their previous label, Caroline, released a 16-monitor rarities collection (Naked Baby Photos), while Folds released his initial solo record, Volume 1, beneath the pseudonym Concern with Pop. Even though solo effort proceeded to go largely undetected, it included the tune “In Appreciate,” which highlighted some melodramatic vocals from non-e apart from Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, and that was performed in the Conan O’Brien Present soon after the album’s discharge. Ben Folds Five regrouped with 1999’s The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, that was a far more mature function than its predecessors, and highlighted a few of Folds’ most powerful songwriting up to now. It could also end up being the band’s last record for over ten years. Folds produced his official single debut with Rockin’ the Suburbs, a far more diversely arranged established that found its way to past due 2001. A 2003 live work, Ben Folds Live, was accompanied by some EPs before Folds came back towards the piano trio format using the introspective Tunes for Silverman in 2005. He released Supersunnyspeedgraphic: The LP in 2006, accompanied by the full-length Method on track in 2008. That same 12 months noticed a reunion display by Ben Folds Five where they performed their third recording in its entirety. In ’09 2009, Folds added two tunes to University or college A Cappella!, a assortment of addresses of a few of Folds’ greatest tracks by numerous university groups. Carrying on to branch out in a variety of directions, Folds became a member of NBC’s a cappella skill display The Sing Off among the judges, employment he would keep for three months. Lonesome Avenue, a cooperation with English novelist/essayist Nick Hornby (Large Fidelity, In regards to a Boy), found its way to 2010, accompanied by the 18-monitor Retrospective: THE VERY BEST Imitation of Myself 1995-2011, which displayed Folds’ 1st U.S. profession overview. The compilation included a fresh track with the initial Ben Folds Five, who re-formed the next 12 months and released their 4th studio recording, The Sound of the life span of your brain, accompanied by Ben Folds Five Reside in 2013. In 2015, Folds released Therefore There, an eight-track assortment of chamber pop originals that he documented with NY City-based traditional sextet yMusic. The recording also included a overall performance of his “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra,” using the Nashville Symphony. The recording reached number 1 on Billboard’s traditional and traditional crossover charts.

Quick Facts

• Facts
• Filmography
• Awards
• Salaries
• Quotes
• Trademarks
• Pictures



#	Fact
1	On "The Bens Rock Over Australia" tour with Ben Lee and Ben Kweller. [March 2003]
2	Is touring Australia and performing with the main professional symphony orchestras of Perth, Western Australia, Sydney New South Wales, Brisbane, Queensland, Melbourne, Victoria and Adelaide, South Australia. [August 2006]
3	Touring "Songs for Silverman" across America and Europe. [May 2005]
4	On tour with fellow musicians Rufus Wainwright and Guster. [June 2004]
5	Is one of the top selling artists in America, Australia, and Japan, despite little-to-no radio airplay.
6	Went to high school in North Carolina with ESPN's Stuart Scott.
7	His debut solo album, Rockin' The Suburbs, was released on September 11, 2001.
8	Collaborated with Ben Lee and Ben Kweller as "The Bens" to produce the four songs: "Just Pretend," "XFire," "Stop!," and "Bruised".
9	His twin children are a boy and girl named Louis Frances and Gracie Scott
10	Former singer/pianist for Ben Folds Five.



Soundtrack

Soundtrack

Title	Year	Status	Character
Driving Lessons	2006	performer: "Jesusland" / writer: "Jesusland"
Hoodwinked!	2005	performer: "Red is Blue"
Duane Hopwood	2005	performer: "ROCKIN' THE SUBURBS" / writer: "ROCKIN' THE SUBURBS"
Jersey Girl	2004	performer: "Wandering" / writer: "Wandering"
Everwood	2002	TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Banger Sisters	2002	performer: "Doctor My Eyes"
The Sweetest Thing	2002	performer: "Losing Lisa" / writer: "Losing Lisa"
Not Another Teen Movie	2001	producer: "Prom Tonight" / writer: "Prom Tonight"
I Am Sam	2001	performer: "Golden Slumbers"
Sidewalks of New York	2001	writer: "Jane" 1999
How the Grinch Stole Christmas	2000	performer: "Lonely Christmas Eve" / producer: "Lonely Christmas Eve" / writer: "Lonely Christmas Eve"
100 Girls	2000	performer: "Wanderling" / writer: "Wanderling"
Godzilla	1998/I	writer: "Air"
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	1996	TV Series writer: "Kate"
The Truth About Cats & Dogs	1996	producer: "Bad Idea" / writer: "Bad Idea"
Long Vacation	1996	TV Series writer: "Philosophy"
Mr. Wrong	1996	producer: "SONG FOR THE DUMPED" / writer: "SONG FOR THE DUMPED"
The Comix Scrutinizer		TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2016 writer - 1 episode, 2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	2015	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Community		TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
About Time	2013/I	performer: "The Luckiest Instrumental" / writer: "The Luckiest Instrumental" - as Benjamin Folds
Cold Turkey	2013/III	performer: "You Can Go Home" / writer: "You Can Go Home"
Parenthood	2013	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Some Jerk with a Camera		TV Series documentary performer - 2 episodes, 2012 writer - 1 episode, 2012
Castle	2012	TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Last Days of Cinerama	2012	Documentary short writer: "One Tiny Thing"
Weeds	2012	TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Block		TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2012 writer - 1 episode, 2012
Conan O'Brien Can't Stop	2011	Documentary writer: "Army"
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon		TV Series music - 1 episode, 2010 performer - 1 episode, 2010
Grey's Anatomy	2009	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Marley & Me	2008	performer: "Rockin' the Suburbs Over the Hedge Version" / writer: "Rockin' the Suburbs Over the Hedge Version" - as Benjamin Scott Folds
Religulous	2008	Documentary writer: "Jesusland"
A Hero in Heaven	2007	Documentary performer: "The Luckiest" / writer: "The Luckiest"
Ben Folds: Live at My Space	2007	Video performer: "There's Always Someone Cooler Than You", "Learn To Live With What You Are", "Kate", "Bastard", "Jesusland", "All U Can Eat", "I Walk The Line", "Such Great Heights", "Army", "Rockin' The Suburbs", "Bitches Ain't Shit" / writer: "There's Always Someone Cooler Than You", "Learn To Live With What You Are", "Kate", "Bastard", "Jesusland", "All U Can Eat", "Army", "Rockin' The Suburbs", "Bitches Ain't Shit"
Over the Hedge	2006	performer: "Family of Me", "Heist", "Still", "Rockin' the Suburbs Over the Hedge Version", "Lost in the Supermarket" / writer: "Family of Me", "Heist", "Still", "Rockin' the Suburbs Over the Hedge Version"
Scrubs	2006	TV Series 1 episode
Shut Up and Sing	2006	writer: "Kate"

Actor

Actor

Title	Year	Status	Character
Drunk History	2016	TV Series	Nathan Cherry
You're the Worst	2016	TV Series	Ben Folds
CollegeHumor Originals	2014	TV Series
Community	2014	TV Series	Professor Bublitz
Ben Folds: Way to Normal	2008	Video	Band

Composer

Composer

Title	Year	Status	Character
Handsome	2017	post-production
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet	2009	Documentary
Live Life	2007/I	Short
Ben Folds and Waso Live in Perth	2005	Video
Evaporated	2000	Documentary short

Music Department

Music Department

Title	Year	Status	Character
Misery Loves Comedy	2015	Documentary composer: theme music
Cold Turkey	2013/III	composer: additional music
100 Girls	2000	additional score

Thanks

Thanks

Title	Year	Status	Character
Old People at Bonnaroo	2015	Short special thanks

Self

Self

Title	Year	Status	Character
Temple of Art	2017	Documentary post-production	Himself
Comedy Bang! Bang!	2016	TV Series	Himself
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	2015	TV Series	Himself - Musical Support
Live from Daryl's House	2015	TV Series documentary	Himself
Great Performances	2015	TV Series	Himself
Drunk History	2014	TV Series	Himself
Ringo Starr: A Lifetime of Peace and Love	2014	TV Movie	Himself
The Sing-Off	2009-2013	TV Series	Himself - Judge
Made in Hollywood	2013	TV Series	Himself
The Queen Latifah Show	2013	TV Series	Himself - Musical Guest
Kevin Pollak's Chat Show	2013	TV Series	Himself
We're the Millers	2013		Himself - Piano Teacher (uncredited)
For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville	2013	Documentary	Himself
The Best Hit USA	2005-2013	TV Series	Himself
We Cause Scenes	2013	Documentary	Himself
Ben Folds Five Live from the Warfield	2013	TV Movie	Himself
Who Is Clinn Rippy?	2012	Documentary	Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!	2008-2012	TV Series	Himself - Musical Guest
Rove LA	2012	TV Series	Himself
The Colbert Report	2012	TV Series	Himself
Big Morning Buzz Live	2011	TV Series	Himself
A Love Letter to Tom Waits: The Life of Chris Roberts-Antieau	2011	Documentary	Himself
Spicks and Specks	2011	TV Series	Himself
A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus	2010	TV Series	Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon	2010	TV Series	Himself - Musical Guest
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet	2009	Documentary
Late Night with Conan O'Brien	1997-2008	TV Series	Himself / Himself - Musical Guest / Themselves - Musical Guest
Bonefish Grill's Notes from the Road	2008	TV Series	Himself
T in the Park	2008	TV Movie	Himself
Nashville at Nite	2008	TV Series	Himself
I Love the '70s: Volume 2	2006	TV Series	Himself
HBO First Look	2006	TV Series documentary	Himself
Follow My Voice: With the Music of Hedwig	2006	Documentary	Himself
The Henry Rollins Show	2006	TV Series	Himself
Living in TV Land	2006	TV Series documentary	Himself
William Shatner in Concert	2006	TV Special documentary	Himself
Love Monkey	2006	TV Series	Himself
Austin City Limits	2005	TV Series documentary	Himself
I Love the 80's 3-D	2005	TV Series documentary	Himself
GMTV	2005	TV Series	Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno	2001-2005	TV Series	Himself / Himself - Musical Guest
The View	2005	TV Series	Himself
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross	2005	TV Series	Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson	2005	TV Series	Himself - Musical Guest
Last Call with Carson Daly	2005	TV Series	Himself
Ben Folds, Songs for Silverman	2005	Video	Himself
William Shatner: It Hasn't Happened Yet	2005	Video short	Himself
Live! from Central Park SummerStage	2004	TV Series documentary	Himself
Real Magic TV	2003	TV Series documentary	Himself
I Love the '80s	2002	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Wayne Brady Show	2002	TV Series	Himself
The Glass House	2002	TV Series	Himself
The Book Place	2002	TV Series	Himself
American Masters	2001	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Mick Molloy Show	1999	TV Series	Himself
Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night	1998	TV Special documentary	Himself (as Ben Folds Five)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast	1996	TV Series	Himself

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#

Quote

1

People ask me what this song's about... I was asked about it a lot, and I didn't really wanna make a big hairy deal out of it, because I just wanted the song to speak for itself. But the song is about when I was in high school, me and my girlfriend had to get an abortion, and it was a very sad thing. And, I didn't really want to write this song from any kind of political standpoint, or make a statement. I just wanted to reflect what it feels like. So, anyone who's gone through that before, then you'll know what the song's about. - Explanation of the song "Brick", 1997.



#	Trademark
1	Thick plastic black rimmed glasses
2	Piano Rock



Source: Celebrity Pictures & Images