Ben Folds

Ben Folds is a singer, songwriter, and producer best known for their work with the band Ben Folds Five. Ben has released seven solo albums and their eighth album, Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP, was released in 2017. Ben is currently the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Folds began their musical career as a drummer in a high school rock band called Nathaniel Gunnar Brown and the Fabulous Entourage. Ben later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where they studied piano and composition. After college, they moved to Nashville and found work as a session musician and arranger. In 1995, they formed Ben Folds Five with Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee. The band's first album, Ben Folds Five, was released in 1995 and their second album, Whatever and Ever Amen, was released in 1997. The band's third album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, was released in 1999.

In 2000, Folds began working on their first solo album, Rockin' the Suburbs. The album was released in 2001 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2002. In 2003, Folds released their second solo album, Sunny 16. The album peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2004.

Folds' third solo album, Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP, was released in 2017. The album debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200 chart and received positive reviews from critics.

Folds is currently the Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ben has also served as a judge on NBC's a cappella competition show The Sing-Off and as a coach on ABC's reality singing competition Rising Star.

Ben Folds has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts Technology from the University of Michigan. Ben also went to the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

Their manager is Gary Ginstling, Executive Director, National Symphony Orchestra. They are on a team with Gianandrea Noseda - Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra, Steven Reineke - Principal Pops Conductor, National Symphony Orchestra.