{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Rhian Benson |image = Rhian Benson Photo.png |caption = |background = solo_singer |birth_name = Rhiannon Afua Benson |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1977|01|10}} |birth_place = Accra, Ghana |death_date = |death_place = |instrument = {{flat list | * Guitar * piano * keyboards}} |genre = {{flat list | * Soul * jazz * R&B * neo soul}} |occupation = {{flat list | * Singer-songwriter * instrumentalist * record producer}} |years_active = 2003–present |label = |website = [http://www.rhianbenson.com/ RhianBenson.com] }}
'''Rhiannon Afua "Rhian" Benson''' (born 10 January 1977 in Accra, Ghana) is a Ghanaian-British soul and jazz singer and songwriter.
==Early life== Benson was born in Accra, Ghana, to a Welsh mother, a singer, and an Ashanti father, a guitarist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/pop-up.php?ID=212 |title=Rhian Benson |publisher=Ghanaweb.com |accessdate=2 January 2012}}</ref> She has a younger sister and a brother.<ref>{{cite web | last =Jacks | first =Camille | title =Introducing Rhian Benson and her debut album Gold Coast | work =The Interview | publisher =Whudat | date =July 2004 | url =http://www.whudat.com/interview/pages/rhianbenson.html | accessdate =7 November 2011 | archive-date =24 August 2011 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110824225638/http://www.whudat.com/interview/pages/rhianbenson.html | url-status =dead }}</ref> She was raised in Ghana, India (where her family moved following a diplomatic posting of her father),<ref>{{cite web | last =Modessa | first =Keya | title =Featuring Rhian Benson | work =Interview Archive | publisher =The Situation | url =http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/rhian_benson/rhian.html | accessdate =7 November 2011 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103043/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/rhian_benson/rhian.html | archive-date =27 September 2011 | url-status =dead }}</ref> and her mother's native United Kingdom, where she eventually settled. Benson began playing piano and guitar and writing songs and poetry early. Before pursuing a music career, she attended the London School of Economics and gained a degree in econometrics.She continued her education by studying Economics through Harvard's extension certificate program, which she did not complete due to the illness of her mother.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/10/3/the-next-sade-banks-on-her/|title=The Next Sade Banks On Her Singing Skills {{!}} Arts {{!}} The Harvard Crimson|website=www.thecrimson.com|access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref> Benson later worked at an investment bank.<ref>{{cite web | title =Rhian Benson Returns to the LSE: Music, Conversation, African Inspiration – LSE Arts and World Bank event | work =Public Events | publisher =London School of Economics | date =6 June 2011 | url =http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2011/20110606t1900vSL.aspx | accessdate =7 November 2011 | archive-date =27 May 2011 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110527174308/http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2011/20110606t1900vSL.aspx | url-status =dead }}</ref>
==Career== Once back in the UK, she performed in small London clubs and was discovered by the Los Angeles-based record label DKG Music. Benson moved to Los Angeles, California, to record her debut album, ''Gold Coast'', released in October 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/rhian_benson/rhian.html |title=Rhian Benson |publisher=Thesituation.co.uk |accessdate=2 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304034328/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/rhian_benson/rhian.html |archive-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title =Rhian Benson: Biography |first=Wade|last=Kergan |publisher=AllMusic| url ={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=rhian-benson-p543574|pure_url=yes}} |accessdate =24 April 2011}}</ref> She wrote all the songs on the album, having composed the music on guitar and keyboards, and co-produced it with producers Bob Power and James Poyser.
Benson won a Mobo Award in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobo.com/2005%20Royal%20Albert%20Hall|title=MOBO Awards 2005|publisher=MOBO Awards|accessdate=24 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724150716/http://www.mobo.com/2005%20Royal%20Albert%20Hall|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
With the help of Denmark's production duo, Jonas Rendbo and Daniel Fridell, Benson released her second album, ''Hands Clean'', on 14 February 2011.<ref>{{cite web |author=William Frank at XYLO |url=http://www.rhianbenson.com |title=The Official Site |publisher=Rhian Benson |accessdate=2 January 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The album redefined modern soul as Benson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/public-enemy/21068 |title=MOBO winners revealed |work=NME |date=23 September 2005 |accessdate=2 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last =Lindvall | first =Helienne | title =Behind the music: the singer with her sights on the World Bank | work =The Guardian – Music Blog | date =2 June 2011 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/jun/02/behind-music-rhian-benson | accessdate =7 November 2011 }}</ref> sang with soulful electronic backing. The confessional tales of love, loss and life represented a bold, new direction for her.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/gold-coast/250928046 |title=iTunes Music – Gold Coast by Rhian Benson |publisher=iTunes Store |date=7 October 2003 |access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> "Better Without You"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awal.com/album/better-without-you-single |title=AWAL UK Ltd – Music Distribution, Licensing and Marketing |publisher=Awal.com |accessdate=2 January 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> was the first single released in February 2011.
==Discography==
===Albums=== * 2003: ''Gold Coast'' * 2011: ''Hands Clean''<ref>{{cite web|author=MIMI Magazine |url=https://mimimagazine.blogspot.com/2010/01/rhian-benson-poised-to-return-in-2010.html |title=The MIMI Magazine Blog: Rhian Benson Poised To Return In 2010 With "Hands Clean" |publisher=Mimimagazine.blogspot.com |date=21 January 2010 |accessdate=2 January 2012}}</ref>
===Singles=== * 2003: "Say How I Feel" – UK No. 27<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 54}}</ref> * 2003: "Stealing My Piece Of Mind" * 2011: "Better Without You"
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commonscatinline}} *{{official|http://www.rhianbenson.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Rhian}} Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics Category:Harvard Extension School alumni Category:Musicians from Accra Category:Ghanaian jazz musicians Category:Neo soul singers Category:Ghanaian people of Welsh descent Category:English people of Ashanti descent Category:English people of Welsh descent Category:Ghanaian expatriates in England Category:Living people Category:English soul singers Category:British contemporary R&B singers Category:English contraltos Category:21st-century Black British women singers Category:21st-century British women singers Category:1977 births Category:Ballad musicians