{{Short description|American Christian musician (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ben Shive | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Benjamin Aaron Shive | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|9|26|mf=y}} | birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri | origin = Nashville, Tennessee | instrument = Vocals, keyboards | genre = CCM, Christian rock, folk, folk rock, pop rock | occupation = Singer, songwriter, keyboardist, music producer, arranger | years_active = 2008–present | label = | associated_acts = Andrew Peterson | website = {{URL|benshive.com}} }} '''Benjamin Aaron Shive''' (born September 26, 1979) is an American Christian musician, keyboardist, arranger, and music producer, who mainly plays acoustic Christian pop and folk rock music. He has released two studio albums, ''The Ill-Tempered Klavier'' in 2008 and ''The Cymbal Crashing Clouds'' in 2011. He is a GMA Dove Award-winning music producer, for his production on ''Christmas Is Here'' from Brandon Heath.
==Early and personal life== Shive was born on September 26,<ref name="Day">{{cite web|title=My birthday is tomorrow and tonight I got to celebrate with my sweet Lucy—and about 15k of Taylor…|url=https://twitter.com/benshive/status/647641515834085376|first=Ben|last=Shive|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=October 10, 2015|date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> 1979, in St. Louis, Missouri,<ref name="NOISETRADE">{{cite web|title=Ben Shive|url=http://noisetrade.com/benshive|publisher=NoiseTrade|accessdate=October 10, 2015}}</ref> the son of a scientist. He has a brother, Joshua.<ref name="Brother">{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Shive|title=My brother Josh's birthday party feels like the perfect thing to do tonight.|url=https://twitter.com/benshive/status/5904457722|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=October 10, 2015|date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> He eventually relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended Belmont University to study music, while he was there he produced his first album.<ref name="About">{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.benshive.com/about/|publisher=Ben Shive|accessdate=October 10, 2015}}</ref> His second album produced was ''Behold the Lamb of God'' from Andrew Peterson.<ref name="About"/> He has played three-times at the Grand Ole Opry.<ref name="About"/> He is married to Beth Shive and together they have a daughter, Lucy.<ref name="Daughter">{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Shive|title=Got to play a stirring round of old maid with my daughter Lucy and my father-in-law. One of them cheated. I won't say which. |url=https://twitter.com/benshive/status/208692486984564736|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=October 10, 2015|date=June 1, 2012}}</ref>
==Music career== His music career started in 2008, with the studio album, ''The Ill-Tempered Klavier'', that was released on June 17, 2008, where ''Christianity Today'' rates the album five stars, stating, it "can't be recommended more highly, a rewarding and introspective listen from start to finish."<ref name="CT One">{{cite web|first=Andy|last=Argyrakis|title=The Ill-Tempered Klavier|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/septemberweb-only/illtemperedklavier.html|work=Christianity Today|accessdate=October 10, 2015|date=September 1, 2008}}</ref> He released, ''The Cymbal Crashing Clouds'', on September 26, 2011, while ''Christianity Today'' rates the album four stars, writing, "His lyrics are wildly creative; attentive listeners will pick up some clear nods to the biblical prophets, lending gravity to a transporting collection of songs."<ref name="CT Two">{{cite web|first=Josh|last=Hurst|title=The Cymbal Crashing Clouds |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/septemberweb-only/crashingclouds-mini.html|work=Christianity Today|accessdate=October 10, 2015|date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> The song, "Listen!", was reviewed by The Sound Opinion, where they say, "There are diamonds out there, like this song, and diamond cutters, like Ben Shive."<ref name="TSO Song">{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Geil|title=Song Review: Listen! by Ben Shive |url=http://thesoundopinion.com/2012/05/09/song-review-listen-by-ben-shive/|publisher=The Sound Opinion|accessdate=October 10, 2015|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> He was awarded the GMA Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year in 2014, for his production on the 2013 album ''Christmas Is Here'' by Brandon Heath.<ref name="Dove Award">{{cite web|author=GMA Dove Award|title=Search: Ben Shive|url=http://doveawards.com/awards/past-winners/|publisher=Gospel Music Association|accessdate=October 10, 2015}}</ref>
==Discography== ;Studio albums * ''The Ill-Tempered Klavier'' (June 17, 2008) * ''The Cymbal Crashing Clouds'' (September 26, 2011)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.benshive.com/ Official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shive, Ben}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:American performers of Christian music Category:Musicians from St. Louis Category:Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee Category:Songwriters from Missouri Category:Songwriters from Tennessee