Ben Smith - Heart
Ben has performed and recorded with an impressive and diverse roster of artists including Heart, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Buddahead, Taj Mahal, Cyndi Lauper, Lovemongers, Tracy Nelson, Deniece Williams, Peter Frampton, P.F. Sloan (legendary producer and writer of "Eve of Destruction" and "Secret Agent Man"), Cornelius Bumpus, Danny O'Keefe, Sugar Pie de Santos, jazz artists Nancy Wilson, Ernestine Anderson and Glenn Alexander, Phoebe Snow, The Songcatchers featuring Charles Neville, Kenny G, Tony Gable, 206, banjo god Danny Barnes, as well as many other talented artists live and in the studio.

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Ben moved to New York from Seattle, and worked with various groups until his sound caught the ear of pop and R&B icon Pheobe Snow. He toured with her for two and a half years. Not wanting to let his jazz chops cool during this time, Ben also played on two releases by guitarist Glenn Alexander, featuring artists the likes of Randy Brecker (Brecker Brothers) and Mino Cinelu (Miles Davis, Sting) Manolo Badrena (Weather Report), Mark Egan (Pat Metheny), Scott Healy (Conan O' Brian), and T Lavitz (Dixie Dregs), among others. Extensive touring followed these releases, including festivals and club dates at the Blue Note in New York and Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.

Ben began performing with Heart in the fall of 1995, including performances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in the fall of '96, the "Ann Wilson of Heart" tour '96, the "VH-1 Fairway to Heaven" concert '96, and the "Ann Wilson of Heart" concert tour '98, as well as the '02 "Summer of Love" US tour with Heart, which included Ann and Nancy Wilson, Mike Inez of Alice in Chains, Scott Olson and Tom Kellock.  Recorded at the last stop on their 2002 tour, “Alive in Seattle” documents an impeccable performance by the band highlighting their biggest hits.  2004 saw a new release from the band, Jupiters Darling, and it has quickly become a critic and fan favorite.

Other work with Ann and Nancy Wilson included two releases by Lovemongers (with founding members Frank Cox and Sue Ennis), "Whirligig" on Will Records, and the 1998 holiday album " Heart Presents A Lovemonger's Christmas " on 2B Records, as well as the Lovemongers tour in November and December '97; and other concert dates since then.

Other work has included recording and/or performing with hit record producer Don Gilmore (of Linkin Park, Sugar Ray, John Doe, Lit and Eve 6 fame) on "Buddahead" for Interscope Records; with BoyMeetsGirl on their new release; with Tony Gable and 206 on their new ep; with B.B. King for the Microsoft Network's "Riff" series; with many talented independent artists, including SweetLou, Superlush, Left Hand Smoke and Elaine Summers.  

Ben played drums for the Cameron Crowe film (and soundtrack) "Almost Famous", with Nancy Wilson composing, featuring Peter Frampton and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, which included the songs by the band "Stillwater". The soundtrack for this film won the Grammy award for Best Soundtrack at the Grammys 2001, and the film took the Oscar for Best Screenplay. He also performed with Nancy Wilson and Mike McCready for the Cameron Crowe film "Vanilla Sky" starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz, including the song "I Fall Apart", sung by Cameron Diaz. Ben recently performed on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe's new film "Elizabethtown" and also co-wrote a song during the session with Mike Inez and the film's composer Nancy Wilson.