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Bennie Benjamin

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For the Motown drummer, seeBenny Benjamin.
Bennie Benjamin
Benjamin c. 1947
Benjamin c. 1947
Background information
Birth nameClaude August Benjamin
Born(1907-11-04)November 4, 1907
Christiansted,St. Croix,Danish West Indies
DiedMay 2, 1989(1989-05-02)(aged 81)
New York City,New York,United States
Occupation(s)Songwriter, musician

Claude August "Bennie" Benjamin(November 4, 1907 – May 2, 1989) was aVirgin Islands-born Americansongwriter.He had particularly successful songwriting partnerships withSol Marcus,with whom he wrote "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire","When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)",and"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood";and withGeorge David Weiss,with whom he wrote "Oh! What It Seemed to Be"and"Wheel of Fortune".Most of his songs were in thetraditional popidiom.

Early life

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Benjamin was born inChristianstedon the island ofSt. Croix,then part of theDanish West Indies,and later within theUnited States Virgin Islands.As his family did not have sufficient funds to allow him to train as aminister,he trained as a tailor and cabinetmaker before moving toNew York Cityin 1927.[1][2]

Music career

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He studied banjo and guitar at Hy Smith's School of Music, developing a distinctive playing style, and began performing in dance bands. He played guitar and banjo with various orchestras at theSavoy Ballroomand theCotton Club,and elsewhere, and toured withOlsen and Johnson.Although he wrote songs and attempted to sell them, he had little success until starting work at a music publishing firm, and forming a songwriting partnership in the mid-1930s with New York-born composer Sol Marcus (1912–1976). With Marcus,Eddie Durhamand Eddie Seiler (1911–1952), he wrote "I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire", which was first recorded in 1941 byHarlan Leonardand his Kansas City Rockers, and then more successfully byThe Ink Spots,whose version reached number 4 on the pop chart, andHorace Heidt,whose recording rose to number 1. The song wonBillboard's "Top Songwriter's Award" for 1941. Benjamin, Marcus and Seiler then wrote a second number 1 hit, "When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)", recorded byVaughn Monroeand associated in Britain withVera Lynn.[1][2]

In 1942, Benjamin enlisted in theUS Army,and performed in and produced entertainment shows. After returning to civilian life, he joined with lyricist George David Weiss, and established a second successful songwriting partnership with him. The pair wrote some twenty hit songs over the next decade. Their early successes included "Oh! What It Seemed to Be", a 1946 hit forFrank Sinatra,Frankie Carle,and others;Perry Como's number 1 hit "Surrender";and"Rumors Are Flying",a number 1 hit in 1946 for Frankie Carle and also a hit for theAndrews Sistersand others. They also wrote together for theDisneyfilmsFun and Fancy FreeandMelody Time.Later hits written by Benjamin and Weiss included "I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Any More" (recorded bythe Stardustersand Perry Como); "I'll Never Be Free"(a pop hit as a duet betweenTennessee Ernie Fordand Kay Starr, and anR&Bhit for bothDinah WashingtonandLouis Jordan); "Can Anyone Explain? (No, No, No!)" (The Ames Brothers); and "These Things I Offer You" (by Benjamin, Weiss, and Morty Levins, recorded bySarah Vaughan). In 1952, Benjamin and Weiss wrote one of their most successful songs, "Wheel of Fortune", a number 1 hit for Kay Starr which sold over one million copies and provided the theme for aTV show.[1][2][3]

Although Benjamin and Weiss continued to work together, their hits became less frequent and their working partnership ended in 1955. Benjamin then began working again with Sol Marcus, and the pair wrote "Lonely Man",recorded byElvis Presley;and several songs recorded byNina Simone,including "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". The song was co-credited to Benjamin, Marcus, and Gloria Caldwell, the wife of songwriterHorace Ott.It was recorded by Simone in 1964 and was later a hit forThe Animals.[1][2][4]

Having first established a publishing company with Perry Como in 1950, Benjamin became more active as a music publisher in the 1960s, and set up Benjamin Publishing in 1965 and Bennie Benjamin Music in 1968. He was actively involved inASCAP,winning an award for "I'll Never Be Free"in 1979, and was on the Council of the American Guild of Authors and Composers. He was inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Famein 1984.[1][2]

Later life and death

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In later life, he became an active investor in the US Virgin Islands, and became a major stockholder in theWest Indies Bank and Trust.He also became known for his charitable activities, particularly in health care in the Virgin Islands.[1][2]

The Benjamin Foundation was established at his death. As of 2024, it has contributed over three million dollars to Virgin Islands healthcare.Foundation

He died in New York City on May 2, 1989, after a long illness.[5]

He was married to Martha Flores from 1944 until her death in 1983.

Songs written

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With Sol Marcus, Ed Durham and Ed Seiler

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With George David Weiss

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with Sol Marcus

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Others

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References

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  1. ^abcdefBiography by Steve Huey,Allmusic.com.Retrieved 3 April 2017
  2. ^abcdefMark Clague, "About Bennie",Bennie Benjamin Foundation.Retrieved 3 April 2017
  3. ^Songs written by Bennie Benjamin,MusicVF.com.Retrieved 3 April 2017
  4. ^Bennie Benjamin,Songwriters Hall of FameArchived2016-04-10 at theWayback Machine.Retrieved 3 April 2017
  5. ^"Songwriter Claude A. `Bennie` Benjamin, 81",New York Times,May 7, 1989.Retrieved 3 April 2017
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