Ben Folds

He married his childhood sweetheart Anna Goodman in 1987 and divorced her in 1992. She had co-written several songs performed by Ben Folds Five.

He had a short lived marriage to Kate Rosen in 1996.

He entered into a relationship with Australian Frally Hynes in 1998 and married her in 1999. This marriage resulted in the birth of twins. He filed for divorce in 2006.

Ben Fold’s father was a carpenter and his mother was a painter. He had an interest in music from an early age and loved listening to songs by Elton John and Billy Joel.

He attended R. J. Reynolds High School and played piano, bass and drums for different bands.

Along with a friend he formed the band Majosha and performed at Duke University’s Battle of the Bands, winning the competition. They also played at bars and parties. The band eventually broke up in 1990.

He earned a percussion scholarship to the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music; but he could not graduate and dropped out.

He moved to New York and began performing with theater troupes in 1993. He continued playing music at cafes.

After shifting to North Carolina he met bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jesse with whom he formed the band Ben Folds Five in 1994. The band played alternative, piano rock and indie style music.

Their debut album, the self-titled, ‘Ben Folds Five’ was released in 1995. It was an unconventional rock album with an indie-pop sound. It featured their first radio single, ‘Underground’.

Their second album, ‘Whatever and Ever Amen’ was out in 1997. It featured the hit single, ‘Brick’ which was to become the band’s most successful single ever.

In 1998, they released a compilation album, ‘Naked Baby Photos’ containing unreleased material from the recordings of the band’s previous albums and live performances.

He founded the alternative rock band, Ben Folds Five, which was highly appreciated for its non-traditional sound, unique music, and sense of humour. They produced hits like ‘Brick’, ‘Underground’ and ‘army’, and have a cult following.

In his solo career, his album ‘Way to Normal’ (2008) was a big hit. It reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 to become his career’s highest ever charting album in the U.S.