27 Years On

 Time goes fast. It was in 2015 last entry about Ben, celebrating his 18th Birthday. Now he's 27 to 28 years old. It is a pretty good moment to learn more about him. The boy who captivated our hearts with a heartfelt tribute to his father, is on the way more than ever.

I met him again in 2018, in Los Angeles, and he explained me he was studying music, developing his career more in a musical production, creating his own music for commercials, working with other people, teaching his skills with younger students, ... that's 5 years ago

But what has Ben in store for present and future? Is he still playing live? Collaborating with other musicians? Recording albums? Will he continue a solo career? There are so many questions to ask about this talented artist, that we have to sit down again and chat a litlle bit about music and his future plans

"I am a musician. I love music. Music is my life" told to this blogsite at the beginning of all: it was 2010 and a young Ben created the hymn "Goodbye Superman" in honour of his father, then the current keyboardist of Elton John Band, tragically died. The song, is an intensive and brilliant piano playing, mixed with a powerful lyric, written by Ben himself. Released as a single, Ben was assisted in the recording process by Jesse Johnstone, son of Davey Johnstone, who recorded most of the instruments on the record, and for the reputated Grammy-award-winning engineer and producer Greg Penny. The single was a smash hit, specially for eltonite's community and proves that this boy has something special that makes him different of the others around. He debuted three own songs at the Ventura County Fair as part of a concert by Rock Nation School, where he studied music. Days over, three members of Elton John’s band—lead guitarist and music director Davey Johnstone, drummer Nigel Olsson and percussionist John Mahon, joined Ben to play his own songs at the Elton John's and Guy Babylon's tribute show by Rock Nation School, a private rock-music school with four locations in the Los Angeles area, owned by Tony Avalon, son of singer and actor Frankie Avalon. Film producer/director Peter R.J. Deyell the explained: “After watching him (Ben Babylon) perform, it’s clear that he really understands music,” Deyell said. “When he plays keyboards, his whole body is playing. He is very aware of what he is doing at every moment, and what the other musicians on stage are doing. He is really terrific.”

With Ben Babylon three pieces Band, he debuted, "Contradiction", first single of his preparing album debut, "Dreams For Sale", it was 2011, produced by Greg Penny and Jesse Johnstone, featuring Davey Johnstone (guitar), Bob Birch (bass), and Nigel Olsson (drums) of the Elton John Band. Also Martin Tillman, who collaborated with Elton, on the electric cello. He opened for bands like Ambrosia, Little River Band, Air Supply, among others, and artists like Kathryn Keats, Kenny Cetera, Macy Gray and: Yes!, Leon Russell.  Ben was also the guest of The Elton Expo 2013 in Las Vegas, at the Tuscany Suites Hotel: "I prepared for the Expo by practicing every day, and getting as much rehearsals in with my band as I possible could. I am playing many, many new songs at this show, and I am really showing a different side of me and my songwriting and the direction it's going" he added on the conversation with Jack Rabbit. Asked then if he planned to play some of Elton's tunes, que agreed: "I plan on playing "Song for Guy" instrumentally with John Mahon at the concert, and then transition into "Burning Man," which John will also play with us". In 2014 Ben Babylond Band developed to The Episodes, a high-energy piano-based alternative rock band as he described before. At the beginning of 2015, Ben joined a band called The Sposato Brothers Band, working with them a lot the whole year, first as a keyboardist, but immediately he started writing songs with them.

I still remember the jam session I had the priviledge to be with, at the end of 2018. Our boy has grown so much, he was so mature at his age, he still enjoys playing music of course, but on a high new level. After Berklee School Of Music a new talented man is on the way of that difficult business. He has everything to succeed, he will always be remembered as Guy Babylon's son, and that's a great honour, but with his own landmark. When I listened Ben's music for the first time, I thought: "This Kid has something different". On my experiences in 2012 and 2018, I thought: this is a master genious, and how he could be such good. He's improving music all the time, writing songs, and always surprising with new sounds. With such humility and hard work, this boy is reaching the stars...

Welcome to The Week of Ben Babylon, will have some amazing stories, learn more about our keyboard genious, and depart along with him about his future and in mediate plans. Thank you and God Bless you Benny!