Music Bloodline

Ben Harper

His idiosyncratic mix of blues, folk, rock, funk, and reggae have garnered him a steady following.

Biography

Combining groove-laden soul and folky, handcrafted acoustics, Ben Harper enjoyed cult status in the '90s before gaining wider attention toward the decade's end. As a young artist, Harper combined elements of classic singer/songwriters, blues, Jimi Hendrix, and such '90s jam bands as Blues Traveler and Phish, and was embraced by critics and college kids alike. Despite the commercial success of the radio single "Steal My Kisses" in 2000, Harper continued to explore different musical textures into the 21st century, enjoying a solid fan base at home and a considerable amount of fame in Europe, where was named 2003's "Artist of the Year" by the French branch of Rolling Stone. ~ MacKenzie Wilson