Ben Wysocki
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Wysocki is the drummer
for Denver-based piano rock
band The Fray
.
, in a conservative household. After struggling with piano lessons (which he took at his parents' request), he began to learn how to play drums in the sixth grade. Ben cites his first influence on music was the song "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys
. He has stated that he wanted to be a "rock and roll drummer" from a young age, and has cited his other major influences as Ringo Starr
(The Beatles
) and Jack Irons
(formerly of Red Hot Chili Peppers
).
singer-pianist Isaac Slade
and guitarist Dave Welsh
. "Ember" soon dissolved, and in the spring of 2002, Slade ran into guitarist
Joe King
. The duo began regular jam sessions, which led to writing new songs. Wysocki joined them in the role of drummer, and later Welsh was invited to join the band as lead guitarist. The newly formed band was named "The Fray".
in 2005. Their second album, The Fray
, released in 2009, continued the band's success, debuting at number-one on the Billboard 200
chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010
.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for Denver-based piano rock
Piano rock
Piano rock, sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a style of popular music that is based around the piano—and sometimes piano-related instruments such as keyboards–with piano typically replacing rhythm guitar as the rhythm instrument...
band The Fray
The Fray (band)
The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005, which was certified double platinum by the RIAA and platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand...
.
Early life
Wysocki was born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, in a conservative household. After struggling with piano lessons (which he took at his parents' request), he began to learn how to play drums in the sixth grade. Ben cites his first influence on music was the song "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
. He has stated that he wanted to be a "rock and roll drummer" from a young age, and has cited his other major influences as Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
(The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
) and Jack Irons
Jack Irons
Jack Steven Irons is an American musician who is best known as the original drummer of the American rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the former drummer for Eleven and Pearl Jam. He has also worked with Joe Strummer and The Latino Rockabilly War, Redd Kross, Raging Slab, Spinnerette...
(formerly of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
).
Beginnings
Ben started playing the drums when he was in seventh grade for a band named "Ember" with future The FrayThe Fray
-Literature:*Fray, a phenomenon in Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People*Fray , a comic book series by Joss Whedon**Melaka Fray, titular character of the comic book series-Music:*"Fray", a song from the album 14 Shades of Grey by Staind...
singer-pianist Isaac Slade
Isaac Slade
Isaac Edward Slade is the lead vocalist, main songwriter, pianist, and co-founder of Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.-Early years:...
and guitarist Dave Welsh
Dave Welsh
David "Dave" Welsh is the lead guitarist for the Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.-Early life:Welsh was born in Tucson, Arizona and attended D'Evelyn High School in Denver, Colorado but later transferred to Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado...
. "Ember" soon dissolved, and in the spring of 2002, Slade ran into guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Joe King
Joe King (guitarist)
Joe King is the guitarist, backing vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.-Early life:Joe King was born on May 25, 1980 in Colorado, and is of Spanish descent...
. The duo began regular jam sessions, which led to writing new songs. Wysocki joined them in the role of drummer, and later Welsh was invited to join the band as lead guitarist. The newly formed band was named "The Fray".
The Fray
The Fray achieved mainstream success with their debut album, How to Save a LifeHow to Save a Life
How to Save a Life is the debut album by The Fray. Released on September 13, 2005 through Epic Records, the record charted in the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and was a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK...
in 2005. Their second album, The Fray
The Fray (album)
The Fray is the second studio album by The Fray. Released on February 3, 2009, through Epic Records, the album debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200 chart, and became a top 5 hit in Australia and Canada. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010...
, released in 2009, continued the band's success, debuting at number-one on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010
Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop music albums...
.