finetune artist: Ben Folds Five

Formed in North Carolina, USA, Ben Folds Five took their name from leader Ben Folds (b. Benjamin Scott Folds, 12 September 1966, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; piano/vocals). However, the band turned out to be a trio rather than the quintet that the name implied, the line-up completed by Robert Sledge (b. 9 March 1968; bass) and Darren Jessee (b. 8 April 1971; drums). A rock band without a lead guitarist is certainly something unique, but Ben Folds Five fitted the bill so well that most listeners failed to notice the absence of the guitar. Immediately it was apparent that Folds intended to create something a little different from the usual perception of the pianist/singer-songwriter: "The one thing I knew when I started out was that I didn't want to be the singer-songwriter at the piano. Everybody wants you to be like Billy Joel or Elton John or somebody, and that just doesn't interest me." Folds formed the trio after originally working as a percussionist on Nashville sessions for Christian pop artists. He also spent time playing bass in a Broadway production of Buddy. After returning to North Carolina and recruiting local musicians Jessee and Sledge, the Ben Folds Five made their debut with a fine self-titled album for Caroline Records in 1995. This displayed the band's offbeat, ever-inventive style, and captured the imagination of critics throughout Europe and the USA.

Listen to Ben Folds Five at Finetune.

(2006) Underground #1
(2006) Underground #2
(2004) Ben Folds Five
(1999) The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner
(1998) Naked Baby Photos
(1997) Whatever and Ever Amen
(1997) Whatever And Ever Amen (Remastered Edition)

Brick
Song for the Dumped
Army
Battle of Who Could Care Less
Video Killed The Radio Star