Ben Folds has been around the block. It would be easy to excuse himself, and ramble into the retirement most of his peers have been forced into. No one would blame the singer/songwriter for retiring his baby grand (surely he's gone through more than one) and snowbirding between Florida and his Winston-Salem, North Carolina home.

What Folds has done however, is turn his early success with Ben Folds Five (there were only three members) into an impressive career that has spanned 2 decades

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Ben Folds - the Early Years

Benjamin Scott Folds was born in 1966 to a Carpenter in North Carolina, and spent much of his early childhood moving around. A piano his father had traded for work became his constant in a world of ever changing locations, schools and friends.

The artist of many hats was in several bands (including one called "Pots and Pans") as a drummer, and eventually landed a publishing deal which lead him to Nashville Tennessee.

After a stint at Miami School of Music, Folds moved home and went to work on honing his piano skills. "I spent maybe six months just running scales with a metronome like a freak," Folds said. "I suppose that did something." He formed Ben Folds Five; he was on his way

Ben Folds Five - Metallica Without The Guitar

Attending a Ben Folds Five show in the mid nineties consisted of watching a shy-geeky guy beat the wiring out of a piano while belting out crowd pleasers like "Underground", "Uncle Walter", "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" and "Song For The Dumped (and they performed "Brick" too). By the end of the show, one was usually exhausted, and ready to take Ben's piano home and nurse it back to health.

An amicable parting of Five in 2000 opened the door for Folds solo career

Ben Folds - On His Own And Better Than Ever

In 2001, Ben Folds released "Rockin The Suburbs" and played most instruments, including a guitar and followed up in 2005 with "Songs For Silverman". He also contributed to the soundtrack for "Over The Hedge" which has led to a string of movie soundtrack appearances.

Staying busy the North Carolinian has written, sung, produced, composed, performed, on many projects, and has begun writing for his next CD.

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