Jump to content

Ben Green (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben Green
Green in 2019
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin Green
Born (1964-08-31) August 31, 1964 (age 60)
New York City, New York City, U.S.
GenresPop, rock
OccupationsSinger-songwriter, musician, film director, entrepreneur
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • piano
  • vocals
Years active1990–present
Labels
SpouseFrancesca Beghe

Ben Green is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known for the charting success of "Two to One," which peaked at No. 27 in 2002,[1] as well as being a film director, writer, and producer whose film short Pipe Dreams won the award for Best Showcase Short Film at the SOHO International Film festival in 2011.[2] He is the owner and CEO of the Peekskill Clay Studio and the Peekskill Hat Factory, an 80,000-square-foot historic commercial building in Peekskill, New York.[3]

Music career

[edit]

After graduating from Skidmore College with a BA,[4] Green signed with EMI Music Publishing and its subsidiary SBK Records in 1990 and performed in the club scene in New York City.[5] He released a self-titled record on Artemis Records in 2002;[6][7] this yielded a Top 30 hit, "Two to One," which received favorable reviews.[8][9] Green has shared the stage with Jim Brickman and The Bacon Brothers, among others.[10]

His songs have been featured in various mediums including films such as the title track "The Finest Hour" for the film The Finest Hour starring Rob Lowe, as well as "Imaginary Lights" for the film Meet Me in Miami, a song that Green both wrote and performed.[11] Other creative projects include writing and directing a short film, Pipe Dreams, featuring an ensemble cast including Debbie Harry; it was showcased at film festivals internationally and won the SOHO International Film Festival's award for Best Short Film in 2011.[12]

  • Charting Singles
  • 2002 - "Two to One," peaked at #27 in R&R (magazine)'s Adult Contemporary Top 30 - August 23, 2002 [1]
  • 2002 - "Two to One," earned a spot at #78 on the Adult Contemporary's Most Played Songs chart of 2002[13]
  • 2002 - "Without You," R&R (magazine)'s New & Active Chart, April 4, 2003[14]
  • Album Cuts
  • 1994 - Buddy Miles - Nothing Left to Lose - Album :To Hell and Back.[15]
  • 1997 - Warren Hill - You're My Only Love - Album: Shelter[16]

Business career

[edit]

In 1997, Green took stewardship of the Peekskill Hat Factory (est. 1882). Having once manufactured hats, the historic buildings had been converted to a mixed-use commercial industrial complex in the 1950s. After a sustained campaign of improvements and modernization, the Hat Factory is now home to a mix of commercial tenants, many of whom are in the creative arts industry, including the Peekskill Clay Studios, which Green founded in 2010. He has been an advocate for bringing art centers as a cultural component to Peekskill, New York.[17] “Because the city of Peekskill invested so much in creating an artist community, there's now a uniquely concentrated and qualified creative workforce,” Green said. “That's important. That means businesses can come in here, come up here to Peekskill, and tap into this foundation that's already laid before.”[18] Green is also the founder and former chair of Art Industry Media (AIM).[19]

Early life

[edit]

Green was born to parents George and Sheila (née Greenwald) Green, in New York City in 1964.[20] His father is a cardiac surgeon, and his mother is a children's book author. Green began playing piano at the age of three and began writing songs when he was in his teens. While attending Skidmore College, he began playing in clubs and pursuing a career in music.[21]

Personal life

[edit]

Green is married to singer-songwriter Francesca Beghe. They have one son, James, and reside in Garrison, New York.[22][23][24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "R&R AC Top 30 "Two for One" Ben Green #25 page 92" (PDF). R&R Magazine. August 23, 2002. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Soho International Film Festival Winners 2011". Vimooz. April 7, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "A City of Juxtapositions Crafting a new identity, post urban renewal, for Peekskill by Ben Shulman". Architect Magazine. September 4, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "1986 Reunion '01". Skidmore Scope Magazine. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "City Lights Guide" New York Daily News, Page 16, May 12, 1991
  6. ^ "Tunesmith Ben Green All Smiles Celebrating His Brand New Collection of Songs on Artemis album Release" Music Connection Magazine, Page 21, April 1, 2002
  7. ^ "Ben Green radio adds by Mark Laspina" FMQB Magazine, Page 31, May 3, 2002
  8. ^ Rashod D. Ollison, "Ben Green Back After Long Hiatus page 85" The Journal News, April 18, 2002
  9. ^ "Ben Green Album Review by Chuck Taylor". Billboard Magazine page 92. May 19, 2007. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  10. ^ "WHUD-FM Summerfest with Jim Brickman, The Bacon Brothers, and Ben Green" Poughkeepsie Journal, Page 8E, July 12, 2002
  11. ^ "Ben Green Songs List: All Old & New". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  12. ^ "SOHO International Film Festival announces 2012 AWARDEES; DANNY AIELLO Tribute". PRLOG Magazine. April 26, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  13. ^ "R&R AC 2002 year". Pop Radio. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  14. ^ "R&R New & Active Chart" (PDF). R&R Magazine. April 4, 2003. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  15. ^ ""Nothing Let to Lose" Buddy Miles - Songwriter Ben Green". Discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Ben Green". Apple Music. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  17. ^ "Peekskill: Proposed media center could lure film, music production by Michael P. McKinney". The Journal News. February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  18. ^ "New initiative to brand Peekskill as media hub by Aleesia Forni". West Fair Online. February 1, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Art Industry Media founder". Art Industry Media. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  20. ^ "Sheila Greenwald Green". Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Ben Green Biography by Tom Demalon". All Music. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  22. ^ "Obituary for Bina House Beghe". Memorials Interfaith Funerals. March 24, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Back From Her Break". The Highlands Current. March 17, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  24. ^ "Jason Beghe". S&C Inspirational Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2021.

Categories

[edit]