# Benjamin Smoke

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Benjamin Background information Also known as Benjamin Born Robert Dickerson (1960-01-28)January 28, 1960 Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Died January 29, 1999(1999-01-29) (aged 39) Genres Punk rock Indie rock Instruments Vocals, Bass Years active 1970s–1990s Formerly of Smoke Opal Foxx Quartet

Musical artist

**Robert Dickerson** (January 28, 1960 – January 29, 1999), better known as **Benjamin**,[1][2] was an American poet and singer-songwriter who fronted the [Atlanta, Georgia](/source/Atlanta%2C_Georgia) bands [Smoke](/source/Smoke_(band)) and the Opal Foxx Quartet. He was noted for being a radical [rock 'n' roll](/source/Rock_and_roll) performer.[3] He died on January 29, 1999, due to liver failure caused by [Hepatitis C](/source/Hepatitis_C) at age 39.[2] He performed his final concert in Atlanta, Georgia on New Year's Eve, 1998.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Biography

Benjamin lived for many years in [Cabbagetown](/source/Cabbagetown%2C_Atlanta), an "unsafe"[4] Atlanta neighborhood peopled with hustlers and eccentrics.[4] Growing up, he occasionally dressed in [drag](/source/Drag_(clothing))[5] from a young age. When he was nine years old, he would appear in public wearing women's clothing, "with a towel on my head like Whoopi ([Goldberg](/source/Whoopi_Goldberg)), going to the Waffle House in a dress."[4] In [New York City](/source/New_York_City), he found work at the downtown club [CBGB](/source/CBGB). He earned $20 a day, his duties consisted of sweeping up broken glass left by performers and audiences the evening prior. He later described the club as "the filthiest place I ever was."[4]

Benjamin was a well-known character in the 1980s Atlanta [underground scene](/source/Underground_music) and participated in a number of local experimental projects including Easturn Stars, Monroe is Naked Again, Summer Complaint, Freedom Puff, and Blade Emotion. His bands played in such venues as 688, Celebrity Club, and Pillowtex, among others; and the Destroy All Music Festival.[6] In the Opal Foxx Quartet (which often had up to 12 members). Benjamin donned the stage name "Miss Opal Foxx."[7] During this time his vocals received media attention and comparisons to [Tom Waits](/source/Tom_Waits). His voice has been described as "resembling the roar of a wounded lion".[6]

Benjamin also had a notable stage presence and [charisma](/source/Charisma). As described in the [Brooklyn Academy of Music](/source/Brooklyn_Academy_of_Music) blog: "Donning a frayed, cotton dress and a shabby beehive wig, she drags on her cigarette and teases the audience with intermittent flashes of skin, if only they will pay for a glimpse. Ms. Opal Foxx, né Robert Dickerson, queen of a thriving, close-knit music scene in Cabbagetown, a former mill town in Atlanta, Georgia..."[8] In a review of the *Benjamin Smoke* documentary, [A.O. Scott](/source/A._O._Scott) of [the New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) wrote, "...a wispy, sensitive, self-destructive soul full of sweet beatnik romanticism, pop poetry and entertaining nonsense... Mr. Dickerson, bone thin, his voice ravaged by ill health and cigarettes, has a hustler's easy charm."[2]

After some of the musicians of the group died, the band [Smoke](/source/Smoke_(band)) was conceived in 1992 with members Bill Taft, Brian Halloran, and Todd Butler. Coleman Lewis and Tim Campion later joined the band, followed by Will Fratesi. Benjamin was renowned for his onstage banter, never shying away from provoking his audience: "For a faggot, do I have a rockin' band or what?"[4]

Shortly before he died, Benjamin opened for [Patti Smith](/source/Patti_Smith) at a concert in 1997.[2]

Benjamin was an [amphetamine](/source/Amphetamine) addict and he also had [AIDS](/source/AIDS), though he claimed "HIV is not a death sentence".[4] AIDS brought him closer to his mother, though he eventually lost his life due to liver failure, caused by Hepatitis C.[4][8]

## Discography

- *Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection* CD (1994, [Daemon Records](/source/Daemon_Records))[9]

- RARA - *House of the Rising Sun* 7" (1994)

- *LowLife 17* 12" w/Freedom Puff (bass only)

### Opal Foxx Quartet

*The Love That Won't Shut Up* CD (1994, [LongPlay Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LongPlay_Records&action=edit&redlink=1))[10]

### Freedom Puff

- *LowLife 17* (vinyl-only compilation)

- *Visiting with the White Rock Girl*

- *2 Dixie Cups and a String*

### Smoke

- *Pretend/Dirt* 7" (1993, Colossal Records)

- *Another Reason To Fast* CD (1995, [LongPlay Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LongPlay_Records&action=edit&redlink=1))[6]

- *Heaven on a Popsicle Stick* CD (1994, [LongPlay Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LongPlay_Records&action=edit&redlink=1))[11]

### Bands

- [Smoke](/source/Smoke_(band))

- [Opal Foxx Quartet](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opal_Foxx_Quartet&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Baby Weemus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baby_Weemus&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Freedom Puff](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freedom_Puff&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Easturn Stars](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Easturn_Stars&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Medicine Suite](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medicine_Suite&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Knee Deep in Okra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knee_Deep_in_Okra&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Beatrice

## Filmography

Benjamin was the subject of a documentary released in 2000 called *Benjamin Smoke* directed by [Jem Cohen](/source/Jem_Cohen) and [Peter Sillen](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peter_Sillen&action=edit&redlink=1), filming for which took 10 years.[5] *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* and *[Contactmusic.com](/source/Contactmusic.com)* criticised the film for not providing much detail about Benjamin's life.[1][2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_1-1) ["Benjamin Smoke Review (2000) | Movie | Contactmusic.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120406031538/https://www.contactmusic.com/movie-review/benjaminsmoke). April 6, 2012. Archived from [the original](https://www.contactmusic.com/movie-review/benjaminsmoke) on April 6, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_2-4) ["'Benjamin Smoke': A Dying Hipster Full of Song, Poetry and Sweet Nonsense"](https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/072100smoke-film-review.html). *archive.nytimes.com*. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Benjamin Smoke"](http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/benjamin_smoke/about.php). *Rotten Tomatoes*. Retrieved September 3, 2007.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FilmJournal_4-6) ["Benjamin Smoke"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070926232258/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000697246). *Film Journal*. Archived from [the original](http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000697246) on September 26, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Amazon_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Amazon_5-1) ["Benjamin Smoke (2000)"](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00007KK2I). *Amazon*. January 21, 2003. Retrieved September 3, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CDBaby_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CDBaby_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CDBaby_6-2) ["Smoke: Another Reason to Fast"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120527131835/http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/smokemusic1). *CD Baby*. Archived from [the original](http://cdbaby.com/cd/smokemusic1) on May 27, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Benjamin Smoke"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060814210949/http://www.phase9.tv/movies/benjaminsmoke.shtml). *phase9tv*. Archived from [the original](https://www.phase9.tv/movies/benjaminsmoke.shtml) on August 14, 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_8-1) BAM. ["Who is Benjamin Smoke?"](http://blog.bam.org/2013/10/who-is-benjamin-smoke.html). Retrieved January 17, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Jesus Christ: A Resurrection"](https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Christ-Superstar-Resurrection-Studio/dp/samples/B0000018CA/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2). *Amazon.com*. November 14, 1994. Retrieved January 5, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*The Love That Won't Shut Up - Opal Foxx | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic*](https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-love-that-wont-shut-up-mw0000113150), retrieved May 11, 2020

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [*Heaven on a Popsicle Stick - Smoke | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic*](https://www.allmusic.com/album/heaven-on-a-popsicle-stick-mw0000121567), retrieved May 11, 2020

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benjamin Smoke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Smoke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Smoke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.