Ben Harper

Ben Harper is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and musician. Harper was raised in Claremont, California, where he began learning to play guitar from his grandparents. He briefly studied at Pomona College before dropping out to pursue music.

Harper began performing in the early 1990s and gained attention with his debut album Welcome to the Cruel World in 1994. He built a loyal following through extensive touring, and his second album, Fight for Your Mind (1995), expanded his audience and led to collaborations with artists across genres.

Over his career, the singer has released 17 studio albums including The Will to Live (1997), Give It Till It’s Gone (2011) and Wide Open Light (2023), and has worked with groups like The Innocent Criminals and Relentless7. He has won three Grammy Awards, including Best Blues Album for Get Up! with Charlie Musselwhite.

Harper shares children Charles and Harris from his marriage to Joanna Harper. Following their split in 2001, he married actress Laura Dern in 2005. The couple share children Ellery (born in 2001) and Jaya (born in 2004). They parted ways in 2013. In 2015, he moved on with Jaclyn Matfus, and they welcomed son Besso in 2017.