BEN PRESTAGE: Real Music

Ben Prestage

Real Music

© 2007 Ben Prestage (837101394895)

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Real music. A new sound with an old soul. Funky Americana, Ragtime Guitar, Dark Gospel, Alcohol-Fueled Hill Country Blues, and Florida Swamp music. Fingerstyle Guitar, Slide/Dobro, Tuba/Jug, electric Diddley-Bow, harmonica, and vocals.

notes

Ben's great-grandmother was a vaudeville musician who toured with Al Jolson and in Medicine Shows. Her daughter was a very talented Boogie pianist who used to play for Ben when he was coming up. On the other side of the family tree, his grandfather, who was a Mississippi sharecropper turned Ben onto the sounds and culture of Mississippi and Blues in general. "When I was growing up there was only one kind of music in the house. Whether it was being played on an instrument or an old recording, it was Blues. One day though, when I was about 14, I went to help a neighbor build a chicken coop on his property. When we went inside his house to eat lunch I asked him about a banjo I saw in the corner. He picked it up, and turned me on to Bluegrass for the first time. (He lived a 1/2 mile away, but it was so quiet out there you could hear that banjo all the way to my house if the windows were open.) He made homemade wine with my dad and when he'd come over he'd bring his banjo and show me how to pick with my fingers instead of a pick." Later while living in Memphis, Prestage became a busker (street performer) on historic Beale Street. This is where he perfected his drum-kit. "I played out there a few times with nothing but a guitar and my voice. Once people heard me they liked it, but it was hard to get them on my side of the street with all the other music going on down there. There were some other guys out there who played drums with their feet, and whether they were great musicians or not they always got people's attention. I started playing drums with my feet as an attention grabber but soon found out that the drums played with foot pedals actually enhaced my music dramatically. Not only were people listening and buyin' discs, they were now dancing and hollerin' to boot." Ben's interesting approach to instrumentation, songwriting, and singing painted on a traditional and personally historical background produce a vivid picture of tomorrow's Blues and Americana. It has also led him to perform at venues as varied as American Southern music itself: From Blues to Folk festivals, from gun totin' biker bars and juke joints to coffee shops and college campuses, from a Palm Beach multi-millionaire's private party to a sidewalk downtown, Ben earns new fans wherever his takes leads him.

reviews

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  • It's kind of like
    author: Frankenstein the fourth

    getting punched in the ears by the god of awesome!! Yeah I know it sounds intense but it was that good!!

  • wrong woman
    author: aprille

    caught bens act @ angell$phellps in daytona bch last night july 12, 2008 he was wonderfully talented and entertaining also a friend played harmonica with ben his name bryan purdy excellent

  • Had no idea
    author: Dan Ferrari

    I worked summers with Ben when I was in college in South Florida. I knew he was a good guitar player then but WOW. His music has grown and I will not miss a chance to see him live ever.

  • Ben Prestage - Boggy Mist
    author: Hurriciaine Hawk

    Ben Prestige is an American Icon. A hero to myself and other musicians who thrive for originality and look for a way to portray the essence of their message through music. The passionate deliverence of Prestage message is world class - deep in the swamps and bogs of the world. You can not only hear in his dynamice, deccifer it his lyrics, but smell the rich swampy earthy feel of the soul of deep blues. So much passion for so little money, buy all the CD's listen and make any night a drissling humid moment in time. Grounded in the soul of it.

  • Real Music
    author: howard Pardue

    I love Ben's versatility with origional and traditional tunes - especially his down and dirty, you-gotta-dance guitar-drum-harp tunes. I hope he makes it to north Florida this year. The three other cds I have are good to - especially beale street.

  • Good Party CD
    author: Ron Johnson

    This is a really good CD, filled with blues classics and lesser known tunes, all with a good beat. Put it on during a party and leave it on, this one rocks. "Rag" is worth the price of the CD alone. Wouldn't mind a few originals but hey, I'm not complaining, buy this CD you won't regret it.

  • Awesome!!
    author: Parker

    Best album I've heard in a long time, and I dont even like blues a lot. Oh, and if you geta chance to see him live, DO IT!!

  • Insane album!!!
    author: Chris

    One of the greatest artists out right now!

  • Real Music
    author: Rick and Mindy Geer

    Ben is undoubtedly at the top of his select field of true guitar musicians. We ahve seen Ben in person and love listening to his music at home - especially on weekends! Keep up the good work Ben, and please come back to Central Florida soon! Rick and Mindy Geer

  • Real Music- buy it!
    author: Malcolm McKinney

    I first saw Ben at an art show in Deerfield Beach, FL. I told my wife that I liked blues but could only listen to it for a half hour at a time. Well two hours later I was still jumping and hollering. Ben's music is good for what ails you.

  • Great CD!! It's Real Good Music
    author: Cal Le Dux

    I have seen Ben's show live. Best guitar player I have ever seen. This new CD is as good as it gets unless you can be there in person to see him!

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