About Ben

Ben Sollee is a classically trained American cellist and singer-songwriter. His music incorporates banjo, guitar, percussion and unusual cello techniques to create a unique mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz and R&B.
Raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Sollee began playing the cello in elementary school. Besides classical music, his early musical influences included recordings his parents played of Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday and Otis Redding, and later he discovered folk music.
In 2005, Sollee joined with Abigail Washburn (banjo and vocals), Bela Fleck (banjo) and Casey Driessen (violin) to form The Sparrow Quartet. The group’s debut album, Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet, was released in May 2008. That same month, Sollee came out with his first EP If You’re Gonna Lead My Country. A month later, in June 2008, he released his solo debut album Learning to Bend.
In 2007, NPR’s Morning Edition named Sollee one of the “Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year”[2]. Following the release of his album in 2008, the public radio network’s All Things Considered aired a feature on Sollee, describing Learning to Bend as “an inspired collection of acoustic, folk and jazz-flavored songs, filled with hope and the earnest belief that the world is good.
Sollee has also been featured on the PBS series On Canvas, recorded at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, and has worked on the radio program Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. Sollee’s song “How to See the Sun Rise” was featured in a Season 4 episode of the Showtime television series Weeds.
In March 2009, he began touring with the Vienna Teng Trio, which is led by pianist/singer-songwriter Vienna Teng, and The Paper Raincoats, a band from Brooklyn, New York.

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Ben Sollee is a classically trained American cellist and singer-songwriter. His music incorporates banjo, guitar, percussion and unusual cello techniques to create a unique mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz and R&B.

Raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Sollee began playing the cello in elementary school. Besides classical music, his early musical influences included recordings his parents played of Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday and Otis Redding, and later he discovered folk music.

In 2005, Sollee joined with Abigail Washburn (banjo and vocals), Bela Fleck (banjo) and Casey Driessen (violin) to form The Sparrow Quartet. The group’s debut album, Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet, was released in May 2008. That same month, Sollee came out with his first EP If You’re Gonna Lead My Country. A month later, in June 2008, he released his solo debut album Learning to Bend.

In 2007, NPR’s Morning Edition named Sollee one of the “Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year”. Following the release of his album in 2008, the public radio network’s All Things Considered aired a feature on Sollee, describing Learning to Bend as “an inspired collection of acoustic, folk and jazz-flavored songs, filled with hope and the earnest belief that the world is good.

Sollee has also been featured on the PBS series On Canvas, recorded at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, and has worked on the radio program Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. Sollee’s song “How to See the Sun Rise” was featured in a Season 4 episode of the Showtime television series Weeds.

In March 2009, he began touring with the Vienna Teng Trio, which is led by pianist/singer-songwriter Vienna Teng, and The Paper Raincoats, a band from Brooklyn, New York.

On June 4th, 2009 ,  Ben helped to redefine regional touring by strapping his 1930’s Kay cello to his bicycle and pedaling 300 miles from Lexington to Danville, KY – then onward to a different Appalachia town nightly until reaching Bonnaroo on June 11th.

“I always felt like I was missing something during the high speed transportation of conventional touring,” said Ben who aligned with Xtracycle (extended-frame bicycles) for the trip, inspired by its technology to haul gear with relative ease. “I’m hoping the limitations of traveling by bike will cause me to be more present at each place, and be a part of the community.” he said before we went.

The tour also aligned with Oxfam America, a relief and development organization that works to find lasting solutions for poverty, hunger and injustice.  Look for his a new project in 2010 to promote awareness of the Mountain Top Removal organization, featuring Jim James and Daniel Martin Moore.

Ben is married and has a small son.

You can find his tour schedule on his website at www.bensollee.com.