Photo of Ben Bedford

Ben Bedford

Ben Bedford Radio

Music

FEATURED SONG
The Sangamon
  1. Play
  2. Play Next
  3. Add to queue
The Sangamon
Released: Jan 12, 2009
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Acoustic / Americana / Folk

    Location SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, US

    Profile Views: 75108

    Last Login: 3/25/2011

    Member Since 11/2/2006

    Website http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmJlbmJlZGZvcmQuY29t

    Record Label Waterbug Records/Hopeful Sky Records

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    With the release of his debut album, ..Lincoln's Man.., Ben Bedford proves that one need not experience something firsthand to write about it. From life as a Confederate soldier's wife to modern problems such as homelessness, Bedford takes the listener on a journey across the landscape of American humanity. Poignant but never sentimental, his songs are portraits which capture the life and vitality of his characters much like an artist, while illuminating universal themes of joy, struggle, death and betrayal... A storyteller from the young age of 3, Bedford began by dictating stories to his parents before he could hold a pen. He continued to write short stories into his early teens. He picked up the guitar at the age of 14 after watching a friend play on a camping trip. In high school Bedford explored many different genres of music, but his world exploded when he discovered his mom's Gordon Lightfoot collection and then began a foray into the world of folk and Americana that included artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Richard Shindell, and Patty Griffin. The work of these artists resonated with Bedford and inspired him to try his hand at songwriting... In 2000, Bedford entered the University of Illinois in Urbana with intentions of becoming a history professor. While he finished his degree, he was sidetracked by his love of music and writing. The history lectures and texts instilled in Bedford a fascination with gritty human truths and the plight of the common man/woman through the ages. Bedford has used that love of the past to imbue his characters with a sense of historical reality, yet maintain a heightened emotional and human quality... ..Lincoln's Man.. was released to radio (U.S./Europe/Canada/Australia) January 29, 2008 on his own label, Hopeful Sky Records and reached number eight on the national Folk-DJ charts in February. The title track peaked at number three the same month. Bedford's second album, ..Land of the Shadows.., was the number one album for January 2009 with three songs charting in the top ten, also making Bedford the number one artist. ..Both albums are available for purchase at several locations on the web, including his website BENBEDFORD.COM.

  • Members

    When on tour, Ben Bedford usually performs solo or with his lovely wife, Kari, on harmony vocals. He has now recorded two albums, "Lincoln's Man" and "Land of the Shadows" with guitar and Dobro wizard Chas Williams producing and playing. Some other wonderful musicians who have added their talents to his recordings include Peter Young, David Spicher, Ron De la Vega, Tammy Rogers, Joey Schmidt, Sally Barris and Jon Randall.

  • Influences

    Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Gordon Lightfoot, Richard Shindell,Tom Irwin, Cormac McCarthy, John Steinbeck, Patty Griffin, Bill Morrissey, Norman Blake, Michael Smith, Jack London, Sally Barris, Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Billy Joe Shaver, Slaid Cleaves, Diana Jones, Richard Thompson, Son House, Johnny Cash, Dave Alvin, Dorothea Lange, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, John Prine.

  • Sounds Like

    Named one of the 50 most significant Folk songwriters in the past 50 years by Rich Warren-WFMT, Chicago and subsequently published on the Chicago Tribune website.

Videos

00:00 | 0 plays | Jan 1 0001

You have no videos.

Comments

Post a comment...
10 of 376More

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up