Biography
Jorge Duilio Lima Menezes, 22 March 1942, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Ben’s self-taught technique involves a highly skilled and fluent adaptation of samba with conventional western pop. He is often considered to be one of the finest exponents of MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), a term that acknowledges the continuing evolution of Brazilian music from its roots in samba and bossa nova. His best-known composition, ‘Mas, Que Nada’, has been covered by a range of musicians from different genres, confirming the breadth of his appeal. Favela-influenced lyrics with chiming, reggae-derived guitar licks add to his spiritual, neo-mystical approach. Other hits to cross over from Brazil to Europe include ‘Charles Angel 45’ and ‘Taj Mahal’. The rhythms of the latter track have long since passed into western pop’s consciousness after being used by Rod Stewart for 1978’s worldwide hit, ‘D’Ya Think...
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