Stuart Benjamin
Encyclopedia
Stuart Benjamin is an American film producer.
. He attended North Hollywood High School where he lettered in Varsity basketball and served on the student council. He went on to graduate from the University of Southern California
in 1967 with a degree in Finance, where he played basketball and served as the President of Associated Men, was a Rhodes Scholar candidate, and was a recipient of the prestigious Man of Troy award. He also attended Harvard Law School
, and graduated in 1970. He is the son of Gerald Benjamin, a corporate executive, and Victorine Benjamin, a housewife.
and received a championship ring when the Celtics
won a World Championship
in 1976. In 1978 Benjamin was involved in the formation of the San Diego Clippers and served on their board until 1981.
In 1971 Benjamin and director Taylor Hackford
formed a production company called New Visions, Inc. Throughout most of the 70’s they produced documentaries, docu-dramas and a great number of music-concert shows. Their short film, Teenage Father
, garnered Hackford an Oscar
in 1979 for the short film
. Benjamin and Hackford went on to produce several other films under the New Visions banner: Against All Odds, White Nights, La Bamba
, Everybody's All-American
.
Outside of New Visions, Benjamin was actively involved in the production of the highly acclaimed Testament
, The film tells the story of how one small Bay Area town near San Francisco slowly falls apart after a nuclear war
destroys outside civilization. Jane Alexander
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress
for her performance. He also produced the highly acclaimed film for American Playhouse
, Billy Galvin
, starring Karl Malden
.
In 1988, Benjamin and Hackford formed New Visions Pictures, a joint venture between New Visions Entertainment and Cineplex Odeon. Benjamin served as President and Chief Operating Officer of New Visions Pictures from 1988 through 1991, during which time the venture produced six films, The Long Walk Home
, Defenseless
, Sweet Talker, Queen's Logic
, Mortal Thoughts
, and Rooftops Benjamin served as the Executive Producer
on all of these films.
As a principal in New Visions Music Group along with Taylor Hackford
and Joel Sill, Benjamin has been involved in a number of sound track albums, several of which have achieved gold
or platinum
status. New Visions Music Group was responsible for nine number one singles.
In 1991, Benjamin formed Benjamin Productions. Together with partner Alise Benjamin Mauritzson, he produced films for both network television and cable including Betrayal of Trust for NBC
, The Abduction
for Lifetime Television
and Sodbusters for Showtime. The company also produced Corduroy (TV series)
, an animated series for Viacom
and the USA Network
, which became a Saturday morning series on CBS
and Safe House, starring Patrick Stewart
and Kimberly Williams for Showtime.
In 2000 Benjamin was involved in the formation of Crusader Entertainment, a film and motion picture company financed by Philip Anschutz
, and served as Executive Vice President of the Company from its formation until July, 2001, when he became a consultant/Independent Producer
to Crusader with specific responsibilities on a number of Crusader’s projects. It was while he was an executive at Crusader that his pet project, the Ray Charles
"Story" was put into development. Benjamin was first introduced to Ray Charles
in the late 1980s and had tried for years to get Mr. Charles’ story made into a movie. During the course of those efforts, Benjamin and Ray Charles
developed a friendship, resulting in Ray Charles
agreeing to make the picture and with Mr. Charles fully participating in its development. Benjamin produced Ray
, which was released in Fall, 2004 by Universal Pictures
. The picture garnered six (6) Academy Award Nominations including a Best Picture, which gave Benjamin his first Academy Awards
Nomination. The film went on to receive 2 Academy Awards
. Benjamin also produced the soundtrack album from the movie which has sold over 4 million units and which has garnered Benjamin a Grammy Award.
Benjamin was also one of the Executive Producers of the Ray Charles
Tribute Concert which took take place on October 8, 2004 at the Staples Center
and was a CBS
Television special. That program received a number of awards, including the prestigious NAACP
Image Award.
In the Fall of 2007 Benjamin successfully launched a live theatrical production based upon the life of Ray Charles
. "Unchain My Heart.....The Life and Music of Ray Charles
" is scheduled to make its Broadway
debut in the Fall of 2010.
In March 2009, Benjamin produced Louis & Keely Live at the Geffen Playhouse
in Westwood, Los Angeles, California
. This theatrical production, based on Las Vegas lounge act Louis Prima
and Keely Smith
went on to become the longest running show in the history of the Geffen
. On January 11, 2010 Benjamin and his fellow producers on the show received an Ovation Award given out by the Los Angeles
Stage Alliance for Best Production of a Musical
- Large Theatre
.
As a music producer, Benjamin not only produced the soundtrack album for the film Ray
, but also Executive Produced the Sam Moore
comeback album, Overnight Sensational
, and is scheduled to produce the Broadway
Cast Album for "Unchain My Heart.....The Life and Music of Ray Charles
".
In addition, Benjamin was the Managing Partner of Capstone Entertainment, which was in the business of producing specialized non-theatrical projects. Those projects include a reunion of the 1960s Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers
which aired on ESPN
Classics in January, 2002 and a series of Comedy Roasts with Shaquille O'Neal
, shot at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas
, which aired on OnDemand as Pay Per View Specials. Capstone promoted and produced a Ray Charles
Holiday/Gospel Concert in December 2002 which Benjamin produced and directed. Benjamin also produced the album from that concert.
Benjamin is currently producing an album for soul singer Tasha Taylor, who is the daughter of Johnnie Taylor
a blues and soul musician from Dallas Texas.
, playwright
, and screenwriter
with two produced plays and has been cast as Tom Dowd
, a recording engineer and producer
for Atlantic Records
in the Ray Charles
Broadway
musical production called "Unchain My Heart".
His daughter Jennifer Benjamin Teeman is a successful writer
and was a senior editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stuart_benjamin.jpg
Early life
Benjamin was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He attended North Hollywood High School where he lettered in Varsity basketball and served on the student council. He went on to graduate from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1967 with a degree in Finance, where he played basketball and served as the President of Associated Men, was a Rhodes Scholar candidate, and was a recipient of the prestigious Man of Troy award. He also attended Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, and graduated in 1970. He is the son of Gerald Benjamin, a corporate executive, and Victorine Benjamin, a housewife.
Career
He began his career in 1970 with the law firm of Wyman, Bautzer, Finell, Rothman and Kuchel. He became a partner in 1975, specializing in business, securities and entertainment litigation, as well as sports law, and was chairman of the firm’s entertainment department at the time he left the firm in January 1988. From 1975 to 1978 Benjamin served on the Board of Directors of the Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
and received a championship ring when the Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
won a World Championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
in 1976. In 1978 Benjamin was involved in the formation of the San Diego Clippers and served on their board until 1981.
In 1971 Benjamin and director Taylor Hackford
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Edwin Hackford is an American film director, and the current president of the Directors Guild of America.-Early life:Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary , a waitress, and Joseph Hackford...
formed a production company called New Visions, Inc. Throughout most of the 70’s they produced documentaries, docu-dramas and a great number of music-concert shows. Their short film, Teenage Father
Teenage Father
Teenage Father is a 1978 short film directed by Taylor Hackford. It won an Academy Award in 1979 for Best Short Subject.-Cast:* Tim Wead - Teenage Father* Suzanne Crough -Teenage Mother* Susan Cronkite - Social Worker...
, garnered Hackford an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in 1979 for the short film
Academy Award for Live Action Short Film
This name for the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film was introduced in 1974. For the three preceding years it was known as "Short Subjects, Live Action Films." The term "Short Subjects, Live Action Subjects" was used from 1957 until 1970. From 1936 until 1956 there were two separate...
. Benjamin and Hackford went on to produce several other films under the New Visions banner: Against All Odds, White Nights, La Bamba
La Bamba (film)
La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez. The picture features Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, and Joe Pantoliano...
, Everybody's All-American
Everybody's All-American (film)
Everybody's All-American is a 1988 motion picture directed by Taylor Hackford and based on the novel Everybody's All-American by longtime Sports Illustrated contributor Frank Deford.The film covers 25 years in the life of a college football hero...
.
Outside of New Visions, Benjamin was actively involved in the production of the highly acclaimed Testament
Testament (film)
Testament is a drama film directed by Lynne Littman and starring Jane Alexander.The film tells the story of how one small suburban town near the San Francisco Bay Area slowly falls apart after a nuclear war destroys outside civilization....
, The film tells the story of how one small Bay Area town near San Francisco slowly falls apart after a nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
destroys outside civilization. Jane Alexander
Jane Alexander
Jane Alexander is an American actress, author, and former director of the National Endowment for the Arts. Although perhaps best known for playing the female lead in The Great White Hope on both stage and screen, Alexander has played a wide array of roles in both theater and film and has committed...
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress
Academy Award for Best Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
for her performance. He also produced the highly acclaimed film for American Playhouse
American Playhouse
American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.It premiered on January 12, 1982 with The Shady Hill Kidnapping, written and narrated by John Cheever and directed by Paul Bogart...
, Billy Galvin
Billy Galvin
Billy Galvin is a 1986 film directed by John Gray. It stars Karl Malden and Lenny von Dohlen.-Plot :Conflict arises between a steelworker and his son...
, starring Karl Malden
Karl Malden
Karl Malden was an American actor. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, he performed in such classic films as A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, On the Waterfront and One-Eyed Jacks...
.
In 1988, Benjamin and Hackford formed New Visions Pictures, a joint venture between New Visions Entertainment and Cineplex Odeon. Benjamin served as President and Chief Operating Officer of New Visions Pictures from 1988 through 1991, during which time the venture produced six films, The Long Walk Home
The Long Walk Home
The Long Walk Home is a 1990 film starring Sissy Spacek and Whoopi Goldberg.-Origins:The feature film is based on a short screenplay of the same name, written by John Cork. While a student at USC, Cork submitted his script for consideration by the Cinema Department, hoping to also direct. While...
, Defenseless
Defenseless
-Plot summary:Lawyer T.K. represents Steven Seldes who claims he is innocent of involvement in making under-age porn movies. He is also her lover, so when she meets his wife things are awkward for her - he didn't say he was married and his wife turns out to be an old student friend. Next day she...
, Sweet Talker, Queen's Logic
Queen's Logic
Queen's Logic is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active broodmare, bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom. She is notable for winning the title of European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2001 at the Cartier Racing Awards, and for retiring undefeated...
, Mortal Thoughts
Mortal Thoughts
Mortal Thoughts is a 1991 mystery thriller, about a woman who is interrogated by the police regarding the death of her friend's husband. It was directed by Alan Rudolph and stars Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, and Harvey Keitel...
, and Rooftops Benjamin served as the Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
on all of these films.
As a principal in New Visions Music Group along with Taylor Hackford
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Edwin Hackford is an American film director, and the current president of the Directors Guild of America.-Early life:Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary , a waitress, and Joseph Hackford...
and Joel Sill, Benjamin has been involved in a number of sound track albums, several of which have achieved gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
or platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
status. New Visions Music Group was responsible for nine number one singles.
In 1991, Benjamin formed Benjamin Productions. Together with partner Alise Benjamin Mauritzson, he produced films for both network television and cable including Betrayal of Trust for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, The Abduction
The Abduction
The Abduction is an episode from the second season of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. The two part episode first aired on April 4, 1994 and served as the CBS show's 40th and 41st installments. It was written by Josef Anderson and directed by Jerome R. London....
for Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
and Sodbusters for Showtime. The company also produced Corduroy (TV series)
Corduroy (TV series)
Corduroy is a 1997 animated TV series based on Don Freeman's 1968 children's book Corduroy. The show was shown on PBS Kids' Bookworm Bunch until it was cancelled along with Elliot Moose. The show was set in New York City. It was directed by Louis Piche and Larry Jacobs...
, an animated series for Viacom
Viacom Productions
Viacom Productions was a television production company active from 1974 until 2004.-History:*1971: Viacom Enterprises was reincorporated from CBS Enterprises .*1973: Viacom Enterprises was spun-off from CBS....
and the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
, which became a Saturday morning series on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and Safe House, starring Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
and Kimberly Williams for Showtime.
In 2000 Benjamin was involved in the formation of Crusader Entertainment, a film and motion picture company financed by Philip Anschutz
Philip Anschutz
Philip Frederick Anschutz is an American entrepreneur. Anschutz bought out his father's drilling company in 1961 and earned large returns in Wyoming. He has invested in stocks, real estate and railroads...
, and served as Executive Vice President of the Company from its formation until July, 2001, when he became a consultant/Independent Producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
to Crusader with specific responsibilities on a number of Crusader’s projects. It was while he was an executive at Crusader that his pet project, the Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
"Story" was put into development. Benjamin was first introduced to Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
in the late 1980s and had tried for years to get Mr. Charles’ story made into a movie. During the course of those efforts, Benjamin and Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
developed a friendship, resulting in Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
agreeing to make the picture and with Mr. Charles fully participating in its development. Benjamin produced Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
, which was released in Fall, 2004 by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. The picture garnered six (6) Academy Award Nominations including a Best Picture, which gave Benjamin his first Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
Nomination. The film went on to receive 2 Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. Benjamin also produced the soundtrack album from the movie which has sold over 4 million units and which has garnered Benjamin a Grammy Award.
Benjamin was also one of the Executive Producers of the Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
Tribute Concert which took take place on October 8, 2004 at the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
and was a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Television special. That program received a number of awards, including the prestigious NAACP
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
Image Award.
In the Fall of 2007 Benjamin successfully launched a live theatrical production based upon the life of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. "Unchain My Heart.....The Life and Music of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
" is scheduled to make its Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in the Fall of 2010.
In March 2009, Benjamin produced Louis & Keely Live at the Geffen Playhouse
Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse is a not for profit performing arts theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Westwood Playhouse, UCLA purchased the property in 1993. UCLA's then chancellor, Charles E. Young, appointed Gil Cates Producing Director...
in Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Westwood is a neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the home of the University of California, Los Angeles .-History:...
. This theatrical production, based on Las Vegas lounge act Louis Prima
Louis Prima
Louis Prima was a Sicilian American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then successively leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the...
and Keely Smith
Keely Smith
Keely Smith is an American jazz and popular music singer who enjoyed popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. She collaborated with, among others, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra.-Career:...
went on to become the longest running show in the history of the Geffen
Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse is a not for profit performing arts theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Westwood Playhouse, UCLA purchased the property in 1993. UCLA's then chancellor, Charles E. Young, appointed Gil Cates Producing Director...
. On January 11, 2010 Benjamin and his fellow producers on the show received an Ovation Award given out by the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Stage Alliance for Best Production of a Musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
- Large Theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
.
As a music producer, Benjamin not only produced the soundtrack album for the film Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
, but also Executive Produced the Sam Moore
Sam Moore
Samuel David Moore is an American Southern Soul and Rhythm & Blues singer who was the tenor vocalist for the soul vocal duo Sam & Dave from 1961 through 1981...
comeback album, Overnight Sensational
Overnight Sensational
Overnight Sensational, released in 2006, was a Grammy nominated album by Sam Moore. This album was 25 years into production, and features artists like Jon Bon Jovi, Bekka Bramlett, Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton, Nikka Costa, Sheila E., Billy F...
, and is scheduled to produce the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
Cast Album for "Unchain My Heart.....The Life and Music of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
".
In addition, Benjamin was the Managing Partner of Capstone Entertainment, which was in the business of producing specialized non-theatrical projects. Those projects include a reunion of the 1960s Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
which aired on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Classics in January, 2002 and a series of Comedy Roasts with Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
, shot at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, which aired on OnDemand as Pay Per View Specials. Capstone promoted and produced a Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
Holiday/Gospel Concert in December 2002 which Benjamin produced and directed. Benjamin also produced the album from that concert.
Benjamin is currently producing an album for soul singer Tasha Taylor, who is the daughter of Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
a blues and soul musician from Dallas Texas.
Personal life
Benjamin has two children. His son Matthew Adam Benjamin is an actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
with two produced plays and has been cast as Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd was an American recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Dowd worked on a virtual "who's who" of recordings that encompassed blues, jazz, pop, rock and soul records.- Early years :Born in Manhattan, Dowd grew...
, a recording engineer and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in the Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical production called "Unchain My Heart".
His daughter Jennifer Benjamin Teeman is a successful writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and was a senior editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Producer
- Teenage FatherTeenage FatherTeenage Father is a 1978 short film directed by Taylor Hackford. It won an Academy Award in 1979 for Best Short Subject.-Cast:* Tim Wead - Teenage Father* Suzanne Crough -Teenage Mother* Susan Cronkite - Social Worker...
—1978 - Against All Odds—1984
- Billy Galvin—1986
- La BambaLa Bamba (film)La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez. The picture features Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, and Joe Pantoliano...
—1987 - White Nights—1985
- Everybody's All-AmericanEverybody's All-AmericanEverybody's All-American is a novel by longtime Sports Illustrated contributor Frank Deford and later made into a motion picture directed by Taylor Hackford.-Plot summary:...
—1988 - RooftopsRooftops (film)Rooftops is a 1989 crime and dance drama film directed by Robert Wise, which follows the misadventures of two homeless teenagers in Manhattan....
—1989 - Long Walk Home—1990
- Queen's Logic—1991
- Mortal Thoughts—1991
- Defenseless—1991
- Sweet Talker—1991
- Betrayal of Trust—1994
- Sodbusters—1994
- The Abduction—1996
- Safe House—1998
- Corduroy—2000
- RayRay (film)Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
—2004
Music
- Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
Celebrates a Gospel Christmas AlbumAlbumAn album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
—2003 - RayRay (film)Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
SoundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
—2004 - Sam MooreSam MooreSamuel David Moore is an American Southern Soul and Rhythm & Blues singer who was the tenor vocalist for the soul vocal duo Sam & Dave from 1961 through 1981...
Overnight Sensational SoundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
—2006 - MusicalMusical theatreMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Cast Album for "Unchain My Heart.....The Life and Music of Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
—2010
Theatre
- Louis and Keely Live at the Sahara —2009
- BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
MusicalMusical theatreMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Unchain My Heart.....The Life and Music of Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
—2011
External links
- http://www.lukeford.net/profiles/profiles/stuart_benjamin.htm
Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stuart_benjamin.jpg