Benjamin Booker

Benjamin Booker was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His family relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he attended all-ages DIY punk shows as a teenager.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/benjamin-booker-interview-debut-album/ |title=Benjamin Booker: Lost and Found - Noisey |website=Noisey |date=2012-08-20 |access-date=2017-07-09}} 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, 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.{{cite web |last=Woodward |first=Alex |url=http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-booker/Content?oid=2488480 |title=Interview: Benjamin Booker | News | Gambit Weekly - New Orleans News and Entertainment |website=Bestofneworleans.com |date= |accessdate=2017-07-09 |archive-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804142838/http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-booker/Content?oid=2488480 |url-status=dead }} He self-released the four-track EP Waiting Ones in 2012, a collection of "low-fi blues-influenced folk-punk recordings and handclap percussion" that gained the attention of music blog Aquarium Drunkard.{{cite web|url=http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2012/08/20/benjamin-booker-have-you-seen-my-son-waiting-ones-demos/ |title=Benjamin Booker: Have You Seen My Son / Waiting Ones (Demos) |publisher=Aquarium Drunkard |date=2012-08-20 |accessdate=2017-07-09}} 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 Records to produce his debut album.

Booker's self-titled debut album was recorded in December 2013 at The Bomb Shelter, an analog studio in Nashville. Produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff), the album was released on August 19, 2014, via ATO Records in the United States and Rough Trade Records in Europe.{{cite web|last1=Polk|first1=Leilani|title=News: Benjamin Booker signs to ATO, releases a track, plays Letterman|url=http://cltampa.com/earbuds/archives/2014/04/30/news-benjamin-booker-signs-to-ato-releases-a-track-plays-letterman-tonight#.U5ZhbXJdWSo|website=cltampa.com|publisher=Creative Loafing|accessdate=10 June 2014}} The first single from the album, "Violent Shiver", was released in April 2014.{{cite web|last1=Howard|first1=Tom|title=NME 20 Tracks You Have To Hear This Week (2/4/14)|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/various-artists/15201|publisher=NME|accessdate=10 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705201125/http://www.nme.com/reviews/various-artists/15201|archive-date=5 July 2014|url-status=dead}} The album received early praise, debuting in the top 10 of Billboard{{'}}s Alternative Albums and Independent Albums charts{{cite web|url=http://shorefire.com/releases/entry/benjamin-bookers-fierce-debut-rolling-stone-arrives-with-two-billboard-top|title=Benjamin Booker's "Fierce Debut" (Rolling Stone) Arrives With Two Billboard Top 10s|work=Shore Fire Media|accessdate=19 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805080703/http://shorefire.com/releases/entry/benjamin-bookers-fierce-debut-rolling-stone-arrives-with-two-billboard-top|archive-date=5 August 2016|url-status=dead}} and leading to Benjamin Booker being named an "artist you need to know" by Rolling Stone,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-july-2014-20140718/benjamin-booker-0821235|title=Benjamin Booker|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=19 October 2014}} "the best of what's next" by Paste{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/08/benjamin-booker-the-best-of-whats-next-1.html|title=Benjamin Booker: The Best of What's Next|work=pastemagazine.com|accessdate=19 October 2014}} and a "contender for rock record of the year" by Spin.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/08/best-new-artists-august-2014-allie-lower-gazelle-twin-benjamin-booker/140801-benjamin-booker/|title=Benjamin Booker - 5 Best New Artists For August '14|date=1 August 2014|work=Spin|accessdate=19 October 2014}} Benjamin Booker also performed on late night television programs Late Night with David Letterman,{{cite web|title=David Letterman - Benjamin Booker: "Violent Shiver"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8VyRO2iqeg|website=Via YouTube|publisher=David Letterman Show|accessdate=10 June 2014}} Conan{{cite web|url=http://teamcoco.com/video/benjamin-booker-08-11-14|title=Benjamin Booker "Have You Seen My Son" 08/11/14|publisher=Youtube.com|accessdate=19 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015164323/http://teamcoco.com/video/benjamin-booker-08-11-14|archive-date=15 October 2014|url-status=dead}} and Later With Jools Holland.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0286xrj|title=BBC Two - Later with Jools Holland, Series 45 Live, Episode 4, Benjamin Booker - Violent Shiver|work=BBC|accessdate=19 October 2014}}

Since release, in addition to touring with Jack White and Courtney Barnett,{{cite web|title=Courtney Barnett (updated dates, videos)|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/04/courtney_barnet_5.html|website=brooklynvegan.com|publisher=Brooklyn Vegan|accessdate=18 June 2014}} Booker, accompanied by drummer Max Norton and bassist Alex Spoto,{{cite news|title=SXSW 2014 review: Kelis, Jungle, Benjamin Booker and Future Islands|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/13/sxsw-2014-review-kelis-jungle-benjamin-booker-and-future-islands|newspaper=The Guardian|accessdate=18 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=Benjamin Booker is living the dream in a couple of ways|url=http://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2014/06/30/benjamin-booker-is-living-the-dream-in-a-couple-of-ways/|publisher=The Current|accessdate=21 August 2014}} has played international headlining tours and performed at a number of festivals. In 2013, he performed at FYF Fest, the Newport Folk Festival, the Austin City Limits Music Festival,{{cite web|title=Line Up|url=http://www.aclfestival.com/2014-artist/benjamin-booker/|website=www.aclfestival.com|publisher=Austin City Limits|accessdate=10 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701055422/http://www.aclfestival.com/2014-artist/benjamin-booker/|archive-date=1 July 2014|url-status=dead}} Voodoo Experience{{cite web|url=http://worshipthemusic.com/artists/|title=Artists - Voodoo Experience|work=Voodoo Experience|accessdate=19 October 2014}} and Lollapalooza, where Rolling Stone named his performance the festival's "best rock star moment... best experienced live and turned up to 11".{{cite magazine|last=Spanos |first=Brittany |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-best-things-we-saw-at-lollapalooza-2014-20140804/best-rock-star-moment-benjamin-booker-20140804 |title=Best Rock Star Moment: Benjamin Booker | 40 Best Things We Saw at Lollapalooza 2014 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2014-08-04 |accessdate=2017-07-09}} Internationally, he has appeared on the lineups of France's Festival Les InRocks Philips and Australia's St Jerome's Laneway Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=814132|title=St. Jerome's Laneway Festival Unveils 2015 Lineups|work=Pollstar|accessdate=19 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020222220/http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=814132|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Benjamin Booker Tour Dates|url=http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtist.aspx?ID=297614|website=pollstar.com|publisher=Pollstar|accessdate=10 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163408/http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtist.aspx?ID=297614|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}

Booker's second album Witness was released on June 2, 2017. The album was announced with the premiere of its title track "Witness" (featuring Mavis Staples) alongside an essay written by Booker which detailed the experience that led him towards writing the album's title track.{{cite web|url=http://benjaminbookermusic.com/witness.html|title=Benjamin Booker {{!}} Witness|website=benjaminbookermusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-24}} The song "Witness" was called "a piano-pounding hymn for Black Lives Matter" by The New York Times.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/arts/music/playlist-nicki-minaj-lorde-fleet-foxes.html|title=The New Tracks You Should Hear|work=The New York Times|date=10 March 2017 |access-date=2017-05-24 |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Caramanica |first2=Jon }} The title track's references to police brutality and activism garnered Booker coverage in politically-leaning outlets including Mic, 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."{{Cite news|url=https://mic.com/articles/177328/benjamin-booker-shares-2-live-recordings-of-urgent-political-blues-from-new-lp-witness#.e7R10xQnW|title=Benjamin Booker shares 2 live recordings of urgent political blues from new LP Witness|access-date=2017-07-21|language=en}} The opening track "Right on You" was shared on April 19 by The Fader which called it "a staticky, high-tempo ballad that packs a punch".{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/04/19/benjamin-booker-right-on-you-witness-premiere|title=Benjamin Booker's "Right On You" Examines The Darker Side Of Modern Life|website=The Fader|access-date=2017-05-24}} The third song to be released from the album, "Believe", was premiered by Time magazine on May 23.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4789457/benjamin-booker-believe/|title=Bluesy Rocker Benjamin Booker Debuts Soulful Track Believe|magazine=Time|access-date=2017-05-24}} Since the album's release on June 2, 2017, WNYC has described Booker as "a punk & grit-infused songwriter whose ecstatic and soulful sounds channel vintage soul-rock, gospel, and blues."{{Citation|title=Guitarist/Singer Benjamin Booker's Potent Cocktail of Punk & Soul|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/guitaristsinger-benjamin-bookers-potent-cocktail-punk-soul/|language=en|accessdate=2017-07-21}} On June 19, "Witness" was shared by Pitchfork alongside a review saying Benjamin "makes retro music feel modern, reflecting on racism in America while drawing on blues, soul, and gospel."{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/benjamin-booker-witness/|title=Benjamin Booker: Witness Album Review |website=Pitchfork |access-date=2017-07-21}}

Following the tours to support Witness, Booker was relatively quiet for the remainder of the decade. In September 2020, he released the single "Black Disco" with proceeds going to the Southern Poverty Law Center.{{Cite web|last=Booker|first=Benjamin|date=September 4, 2020|title=Black Disco|url=https://twitter.com/bennybookmarks/status/1301810986144292866|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904091618/https://twitter.com/bennybookmarks/status/1301810986144292866 |archive-date=2020-09-04 |access-date=2020-11-19|website=Twitter|language=en}} 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.

{{BLP unreferenced section|date=February 2025}}

Towards the end of 2024, Booker started teasing a new album called Lower after releasing a single called "LWA in the Trailer Park", along with a music video for the track on October 16, which gave a pre-save link for his album set to release on January 24, 2025. On the December 11, 2024, Booker released two more tracks for his upcoming album: "Show and Tell" and "Same Kind of Lonely". "Same Kind of Lonely" also came with a music video released the same day. On January 14, 2025, Booker released "Slow Dance in a Gay Bar" as the final teaser single, as well as a music video for the track uploaded the same date.

On January 24, 2025, Booker released Lower, almost 8 years after the release of his last album Witness. The album contains 11 tracks and a runtime of 41 minutes, mixing a range of genres such as art rock, neo soul, psychedelia, with a mix of lo-fi and experimental instrumentals. The album also contains shared production from Kenny Segal, who Booker has worked with closely in the past. The album also came with the release of physical copies, with CDs and vinyls purchasable.

The release of the album was well received critically, gaining an average critic score of 80.

• Benjamin Booker (2014)
• Witness (2017)
• Lower (2025)

• Live at Third Man Records (2015 – exclusively on vinyl){{cite web |url=http://thirdmanstore.com/benjamin-booker-live-at-third-man-records-1 |title=Benjamin Booker Live at Third Man Records |website=Thirdmanstore.com |date= |accessdate=2017-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227224308/http://thirdmanstore.com/benjamin-booker-live-at-third-man-records-1 |archive-date=2017-02-27 |url-status=dead }}

• Waiting Ones (2012)
• Spotify Sessions (2014 – Digital exclusive via Spotify)

• "Violent Shiver" (2014)
• "Witness" (2017)
• "Black Disco" (2020)

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://www.benjamin-booker.com/ Official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Booker, Benjamin}}

Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

Category:American rock guitarists

Category:American male guitarists

Category:Musicians from Virginia Beach, Virginia

Category:ATO Records artists

Category:African-American rock musicians

Category:Guitarists from Virginia

Category:21st-century American guitarists

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:Third Man Records artists

Category:Rough Trade Records artists

Category:African-American guitarists