Rhian Benson Explained

Rhian Benson
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Rhiannon Afua Benson
Birth Date:1977 1, df=y
Birth Place:Accra, Ghana
Years Active:2003–present
Website:RhianBenson.com

Rhiannon Afua "Rhian" Benson (born 10 January 1977 in Accra, Ghana) is a Ghanaian-British soul and jazz singer and songwriter.

Early life

Benson was born in Accra, Ghana, to a Welsh mother, a singer, and an Ashanti father, a guitarist.[1] She has a younger sister and a brother.[2] She was raised in Ghana, India (where her family moved following a diplomatic posting of her father),[3] and her mother's native United Kingdom, where she eventually settled. Benson began playing piano and guitar and writing songs and poetry early.Before pursuing a music career, she attended the London School of Economics and gained a degree in econometrics.She continued her education by studying Economics through Harvard's extension certificate program, which she did not complete due to the illness of her mother.[4] Benson later worked at an investment bank.[5]

Career

Once back in the UK, she performed in small London clubs and was discovered by the Los Angeles-based record label DKG Music. Benson moved to Los Angeles, California, to record her debut album, Gold Coast, released in October 2003.[6] [7] She wrote all the songs on the album, having composed the music on guitar and keyboards, and co-produced it with producers Bob Power and James Poyser.

Benson won a Mobo Award in 2005.[8]

With the help of Denmark's production duo, Jonas Rendbo and Daniel Fridell, Benson released her second album, Hands Clean, on 14 February 2011.[9] The album redefined modern soul as Benson[10] [11] sang with soulful electronic backing. The confessional tales of love, loss and life represented a bold, new direction for her.[12] "Better Without You"[13] was the first single released in February 2011.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rhian Benson . Ghanaweb.com . 2 January 2012.
  2. Web site: Jacks . Camille . Introducing Rhian Benson and her debut album Gold Coast . The Interview . Whudat . July 2004 . 7 November 2011 .
  3. Web site: Modessa . Keya . Featuring Rhian Benson . Interview Archive . The Situation . 7 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103043/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/rhian_benson/rhian.html . 27 September 2011 . dead .
  4. Web site: The Next Sade Banks On Her Singing Skills Arts The Harvard Crimson. www.thecrimson.com. 12 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Rhian Benson Returns to the LSE: Music, Conversation, African Inspiration – LSE Arts and World Bank event . Public Events . London School of Economics . 6 June 2011 . 7 November 2011 .
  6. Web site: Rhian Benson . Thesituation.co.uk . 2 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120304034328/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/rhian_benson/rhian.html . 4 March 2012 . dead .
  7. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=rhian-benson-p543574|pure_url=yes}} Rhian Benson: Biography ]. Wade. Kergan . AllMusic. 24 April 2011.
  8. Web site: MOBO Awards 2005. MOBO Awards. 24 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724150716/http://www.mobo.com/2005%20Royal%20Albert%20Hall. 24 July 2011. dead.
  9. Web site: William Frank at XYLO . The Official Site . Rhian Benson . 2 January 2012.
  10. Web site: MOBO winners revealed . NME . 23 September 2005 . 2 January 2012.
  11. Web site: Lindvall . Helienne . Behind the music: the singer with her sights on the World Bank . The Guardian – Music Blog . 2 June 2011 . 7 November 2011 .
  12. Web site: iTunes Music – Gold Coast by Rhian Benson . iTunes Store . 7 October 2003 . 2 January 2012.
  13. Web site: AWAL UK Ltd – Music Distribution, Licensing and Marketing . Awal.com . 2 January 2012 .
  14. Web site: MIMI Magazine . The MIMI Magazine Blog: Rhian Benson Poised To Return In 2010 With "Hands Clean" . Mimimagazine.blogspot.com . 21 January 2010 . 2 January 2012.
  15. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 54.

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