Oscar Benton

Oscar Benton (born Ferdinand van Eis; 3 February 1949 – 8 November 2020) was a Dutch vocalist. He was also the founder of the Oscar Benton Blues Band in 1967. The band rose to fame in 1968 by being a runner up in the Jazz Festival, Loosdrecht, the Netherlands.

Oscar Benton
Birth nameFerdinand van Eis
Born(1949-02-03)3 February 1949
Haarlem, Netherlands
Died8 November 2020(2020-11-08) (aged 71)
IJmuiden, Netherlands
GenresBlues, pop
Years active1960s–1980s[1]
LabelsDecca, Philips, DGG Records, Pathé Records
Websitewww.oscar-benton.com

Personal life

Benton was born on 3 February 1949 in Haarlem.[2] He studied mandolin and the violin at the conservatory.[3]

On 8 November 2020, Benton died in IJmuiden at the age of 71.[2]

Career

Oscar Benton Blues Band

In 1968, the Oscar Benton Blues Band released its first album, Feel so good. In 1969, they released the album The Blues Is Gonna Wreck My Life.[4] In 1971, they released Benton ‘71.[5]

Monica and Oscar Benton

He recorded two hit singles with the Dutch singer Monica Verschoor as "Monica and Oscar Benton" in the 1970s.[6]

Blue Eyed Baby Band

In 1974, the band changed members and also the name by becoming Blue Eyed Baby. Oscar himself changed his stage name to Billy Boy Bishop.[7] The "Blue Eyed Baby" released the LP Blue Eyed Baby.

Solo

Oscar released his 1981 homonymous album the Bensonhurst Blues, written by Artie Kaplan and Artie Kornfeld, and produced by the EMI Records. The Bensonhurst Blues, which is considered to be Oscar’s best hit, was part of the soundtrack of the 1999 movie La Bûche.[8]

Earlier it was on the soundtrack of the film Pour la peau d'un flic (1979) which features Alain Delon. The earliest version of that song is that of Artie Kaplan in his 1973 album Confessions Of A Male Chauvinist Pig produced by the Hopi Records. The Italian singer Adriano Celentano, in his 2004 album C’é Sempre un Motivo, included an Italian version, named Vengo del Jazz.[9] The single became a number one hit in France in December 1981, and the album was certified gold.[2] A famous Romanian singer, Margareta Pâslaru, sings it in Romanian under the title Spuneam că nu-mi pasă (Bui bui bui). Another Romanian singer Aurelian Andreescu also recorded a Romanian language version of this song titled Îndrăgostitul. The song became the musical theme of the TV show Crazy Horse in the early 2000s.

In 2011, he released his CD album, "Oscar Benton is Still Alive".

Starting in 2016, guitarist Johnny Laporte and Oscar Benton recorded a new album titled "I Am Back". It was released on CD, Vinyl and as a digital album in 2018.[10]

Discography

Albums
YearTitleLabel
1981Bensonhurst BluesPathé Records
1983My Kind Of BluesPolydor
1984If You Go AwayFolegandros
1994Best Part Of My LifeSilenZ Records
2018 I Am Back

Singles & EPs
YearTitleLabel
1972Everybody Is Telling MeImperial[11]
1972All I Ever Need Is YouImperial[12]
1973Bensonhurst BluesPathé
1974My Children, My Wife composed by Charles Segal, pianist[EMI distribution]
1981Bensonhurst BluesEMI
1982I Believe In LoveBleu Blanc Rouge, Carrere
1983Not The Same Dreams AnymoreBiram
1983Not The Same Dreams AnymoreBleu Blanc Rouge
1983Woolly Boolly BoogieEMI
1984If You Go Away (Ne Me Quite Pas)Bleu Blanc Rouge
1986Ooh What A Night! Biram
1996Ze Is Zoals JijColumbia

[13]

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References
  1. "Oscar Benton". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  2. "Haarlemse blueszanger Oscar Benton (71) overleden". Haarlems Weekblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. "HET ALLERLAATSTE OPTREDEN VAN OSCAR BENTON BINNENKORT OP DVD EN CD". Blues Magazine (in Dutch). 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. "Oscar Benton Blues Band". MTV. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  5. "Benton 71". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  6. Billboard - May 6, 1972 "Unit Gloria and a new duo, Monica and Oscar Benton. Among the well-established international Bovema groups are the Cats and Brainbox, who have scored many major hits in Holland and ...
  7. ""BENSONHURST BLUES" : LE MYSTÈRE" (in French). www.bortch.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  8. "Bûche, La (1999)". www.soundtrackcollector.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  9. "Adriano Celentano". www.whosampled.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  10. "Oscar Benton maakt comeback". www.bluesmagazine.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  11. Performed by Monica & Oscar Benton.
  12. Performed by Monica & Oscar Benton.
  13. "Oscar Benton". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
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