31:
255:. His family relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he attended all-ages DIY punk shows as a teenager. He attended Orange Grove Middle School, a magnet school for the performing arts, followed by Hillsborough High School, where he studied in the International Baccalaureate Program. He then attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, studying journalism with intentions of going into music journalism. After college, he moved to New Orleans to work for a non-profit organization and began playing shows. He self-released the four-track EP
404:, which noted the album's "urgent synthesis of blues, gospel and soul — forms with long histories of translating black pain into uplifting and enduring compositions … with a raw and unforgiving candor that's reminiscent of downtown New York punk." The opening track "Right on You" was shared on April 19 by
259:
in 2012, a collection of "low-fi blues-influenced folk-punk recordings and handclap percussion" that gained the attention of music blog
Aquarium Drunkard. The track "Have You Seen My Son" eventually landed on Sirius XM satellite radio. In 2013, he began touring as an electric duo and signed with ATO
437:. In 2023, he was featured on "Baby Steps" by Billy Woods and Kenny Segal, on their collabrative album Maps. On February 27, 2024, he appeared on Armand Hammer's We Buy Diabetic Test Strips on the track "Doves", a bonus track.
30:
370:
named his performance the festival's "best rock star moment... best experienced live and turned up to 11". Internationally, he has appeared on the lineups of France's
Festival Les InRocks Philips and Australia's
394:) alongside an essay written by Booker which detailed the experience that led him towards writing the album's title track. The song "Witness" was called "a piano-pounding hymn for Black Lives Matter" by
348:, Booker, accompanied by drummer Max Norton and bassist Alex Spoto, has played international headlining tours and performed at a number of festivals. In 2013, he performed at FYF Fest, the
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has described Booker as "a punk & grit-infused songwriter whose ecstatic and soulful sounds channel vintage soul-rock, gospel, and blues." On June 19, "Witness" was shared by
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in Europe. The first single from the album, "Violent Shiver," was released in April 2014. The album received early praise, debuting in the top 10 of
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1382:
433:, Booker was relatively quiet for the remainder of the decade. In September 2020, he released the single "Black Disco" with proceeds going to the
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alongside a review saying
Benjamin "makes retro music feel modern, reflecting on racism in America while drawing on blues, soul, and gospel."
410:
which called it "a staticky, high-tempo ballad that packs a punch". The third song to be released from the album, "Believe", was premiered by
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Booker's self-titled debut album was recorded in
December 2013 at The Bomb Shelter, an analog studio in Nashville. Produced by Andrija Tokic (
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400:. The title track's references to police brutality and activism garnered Booker coverage in politically-leaning outlets including
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s
Alternative Albums and Independent Albums charts and leading to Benjamin Booker being named an "artist you need to know" by
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was released on June 2, 2017. The album was announced with the premiere of its title track "Witness" (featuring
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678:"Interview: Benjamin Booker | News | Gambit Weekly - New Orleans News and Entertainment"
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940:"BBC Two - Later with Jools Holland, Series 45 Live, Episode 4, Benjamin Booker - Violent Shiver"
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as "frenzied guitar-strumming and raw, soulful vocals that are hair-raising in intensity" and by
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1234:"Benjamin Booker shares 2 live recordings of urgent political blues from new LP 'Witness'"
1097:"Best Rock Star Moment: Benjamin Booker | 40 Best Things We Saw at Lollapalooza 2014"
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782:"Benjamin Booker's "Fierce Debut" (Rolling Stone) Arrives With Two Billboard Top 10s"
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209:; June 14, 1989) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He cites
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1254:"Benjamin Booker's "Right On You" Examines The Darker Side Of Modern Life"
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729:"News: Benjamin Booker signs to ATO, releases a track, plays Letterman"
497:
1413:
1067:
1307:
Guitarist/Singer
Benjamin Booker's Potent Cocktail of Punk & Soul
991:"SXSW 2014 review: Kelis, Jungle, Benjamin Booker and Future Islands"
319:. Benjamin Booker also performed on late night television programs
188:
417:
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magazine on May 23. Since the album's release on June 2, 2017,
35:
Benjamin Booker at The
Sinclair in Cambridge, MA (18 June 2014)
707:"Benjamin Booker: Have You Seen My Son / Waiting Ones (Demos)"
616:"Austin goes gaga for superstars' gigs at South by Southwest"
1280:"Bluesy Rocker Benjamin Booker Debuts Soulful Track Believe"
1016:"Benjamin Booker is living the dream in a couple of ways"
671:
669:
667:
888:"David Letterman - Benjamin Booker: "Violent Shiver""
862:"Benjamin Booker - 5 Best New Artists For August '14"
1123:"St. Jerome's Laneway Festival Unveils 2015 Lineups"
756:"NME 20 Tracks You Have To Hear This Week (2/4/14)"
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914:"Benjamin Booker "Have You Seen My Son" 08/11/14"
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313:and a "contender for rock record of the year" by
284:), the album was released on August 19, 2014 via
1206:Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon (10 March 2017).
221:as influences. His music was described by the
239:as "bright, furious, explosive garage rock."
8:
1383:"Benjamin Booker Live at Third Man Records"
340:Since release, in addition to touring with
227:as "a raw brand of blues/boogie/soul,", by
965:"Courtney Barnett (updated dates, videos)"
837:"Benjamin Booker: The Best of What's Next"
647:"Benjamin Booker: Lost and Found - Noisey"
29:
18:
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1454:Musicians from Virginia Beach, Virginia
1327:"Benjamin Booker: Witness Album Review"
525:
1352:Booker, Benjamin (September 4, 2020).
7:
1479:21st-century American male musicians
1044:. Austin City Limits. Archived from
260:Records to produce his debut album.
537:"5 Best New Artists for August '14"
14:
1474:21st-century American guitarists
1208:"The New Tracks You Should Hear"
1464:African-American rock musicians
1419:Benjamin Booker at ATO Records
1364:from the original on 2020-09-04
709:. Aquarium Drunkard. 2012-08-20
562:"Benjamin Booker On World Cafe"
429:Following the tours to support
322:Late Night with David Letterman
307:, "the best of what's next" by
496:(2014 – Digital exclusive via
1:
1068:"Artists - Voodoo Experience"
916:. Youtube.com. Archived from
477:(2015 – exclusively on vinyl)
1153:"Benjamin Booker Tour Dates"
373:St Jerome's Laneway Festival
247:Benjamin Booker was born in
1494:African-American guitarists
1489:Rough Trade Records artists
1183:"Benjamin Booker | Witness"
435:Southern Poverty Law Center
1510:
1159:. Pollstar. Archived from
1484:Third Man Records artists
589:"Chicago Tribune A&E"
475:Live at Third Man Records
288:in the United States and
28:
1469:Guitarists from Virginia
1449:American male guitarists
1444:American rock guitarists
334:Later With Jools Holland
282:Hurray for the Riff Raff
1187:benjaminbookermusic.com
510:"Violent Shiver" (2014)
207:Benjamin Roderick Evans
51:Benjamin Roderick Evans
894:. David Letterman Show
386:Booker's second album
41:Background information
758:. NME. Archived from
350:Newport Folk Festival
682:Bestofneworleans.com
516:"Black Disco" (2020)
215:Blind Willie Johnson
1459:ATO Records artists
1042:www.aclfestival.com
290:Rough Trade Records
189:benjaminbookermusic
1213:The New York Times
1133:on 20 October 2014
920:on 15 October 2014
735:. Creative Loafing
593:chicagotribune.com
397:The New York Times
355:Austin City Limits
1387:Thirdmanstore.com
1072:Voodoo Experience
969:brooklynvegan.com
841:pastemagazine.com
812:"Benjamin Booker"
622:. The Independent
620:independent.co.uk
595:. Chicago Tribune
360:Voodoo Experience
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16:American musician
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1389:. Archived from
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513:"Witness" (2017)
494:Spotify Sessions
358:Music Festival,
346:Courtney Barnett
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68:(age 35)
66:June 14, 1989
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1395:. Retrieved
1391:the original
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1161:the original
1157:pollstar.com
1156:
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1131:the original
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653:. 2012-08-20
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154:2012–present
150:Years active
1434:1989 births
892:Via YouTube
733:cltampa.com
587:Kot, Greg.
469:Live albums
441:Discography
286:ATO Records
269:2013–2016:
171:Rough Trade
132:Instruments
109:Occupations
95:garage rock
1428:Categories
1397:2017-07-09
1368:2020-11-19
1338:2017-07-21
1313:2017-07-21
1291:2017-05-24
1265:2017-05-24
1239:2017-07-21
1219:2017-05-24
1192:2017-05-24
1137:19 October
1108:2017-07-09
1077:19 October
949:19 October
924:19 October
872:19 October
846:19 October
821:19 October
796:19 October
713:2017-07-09
692:2017-07-09
657:2017-07-09
546:16 October
521:References
342:Jack White
243:Early life
121:songwriter
100:punk blues
90:Blues rock
62:1989-06-14
47:Birth name
1332:Pitchfork
1259:The Fader
1038:"Line Up"
1022:21 August
423:Pitchfork
407:The Fader
295:Billboard
124:guitarist
1362:Archived
1127:Pollstar
366:, where
253:Virginia
115:Musician
76:Virginia
1358:Twitter
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