A biography for Ben Harperhasn’t been written yet.
“I get diminishing returns when I bore myself in an interview.”
“You have to do what you believe in.”
“If I'm inspired and music inspires me, then I will continue to play it.”
“There is a difference between a great producer and somebody who is a big advocate of your music. Just because you're a big advocate for a band doesn't mean you need to be in the studio with them, and at the same time - we don't need to get into this conversation - you can write a hit, but it might not hit.”
“Life is short and if you're looking for extension, you had best do well. 'Cause there's good deeds and then there's good intentions. They are as far apart as Heaven and Hell.”
“The Blind Boys are truly the deepest well of American musical heritage you can discover.”
“My family owns a music store in Claremont, California, called The Claremont Folk Music Center.”
“Sometimes I may be totally arrogant, sometimes I may totally be the most humble guy you've ever met, sometimes I may be in between. But that's life. Who isn't like that? What's the big deal if I had an arrogant moment.”
“It will make a weak man mighty. it will make a mighty man fall. It will fill your heart and hands or leave you with nothing at all. It's the eyes for the blind and legs for the lame. It is the love for hate and pride for shame. That's the power of the gospel.”
“If it comes out sounding like Dixieland jazz or classical or punk or rock or even slightly metal, that's because that's where I'm going to find inspiration.”
“I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.”
“The music is in the lead here, and a large part of this, I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel a closer bond with the craft of songwriting, stronger than I ever have.”
“That happens every time I get behind a guitar, regardless of what I'm saying, 'cause music is freedom and being free is the closest I've ever felt to being spiritual.”
“I really feel there's no limitation on what this band can do in the studio or on the stage. That's an empowering feeling - that we can bring a song to life.”
“You're definitely a different person at different stages in your life.”
“I've never made a record that didn't sound better than what was in my head - that's sort of my rule.”
“We went for the best overall feel on each song. There are no musical overdubs at all. It's a true live record; it's one of the few true live records out there.”
“Genetics do play a role in how you consciously or subconsciously manifest your true self.”
“My head works in music, so there's always music there.”
“I grew up listening to spiritual music, Blind Willie Johnson and folk.”