{{Short description|Canadian singer-songwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | image = | name = Ridley Bent | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Brian Daniel Fowler<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/915486165 |title=ARLINGTON |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref> | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|01|01|df=y}} | death_date = | origin = Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | instrument = | genre = Country, rock, hip hop | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 2000–present | label = MapleMusic Recordings<br />Open Road | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|www.ridleybent.ca}} }}
'''Ridley Bent''' is the stage name of '''Brian Daniel Fowler''',<ref>"Greased lightning", ''Chilliwack Progress'', February 18, 2005.</ref> a Canadian country singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bent was raised throughout Canada in a military family.<ref>Patrick Langston, "'Hick-hop' worth hearing". ''Ottawa Citizen'', July 16, 2005.</ref> He formally launched his musical career in 2000 in British Columbia, including performances as an opening act for Great Big Sea<ref>Mike Devlin, "Great Big Sea rises despite turbulence". ''Victoria Times-Colonist'', July 22, 2004.</ref> and Sam Roberts.<ref>Mike Youds, "Roberts' power has Store rocking". ''Kamloops Daily News'', September 4, 2004.</ref>
His debut album, ''Blam!'', was released on MapleMusic Recordings in 2005, and was marked by a style that incorporated country, rock and hip hop influences, in a manner similar to Buck 65.<ref name=everettgreen>Robert Everett-Green, "Blam: Ridley Bent". ''The Globe and Mail'', May 13, 2005.</ref> The album was produced by Chin Injeti, formerly of the R&B band Bass is Base. Described by Bent as "hick hop",<ref>"An earful of Bent 'Hick-Hop'". ''The Golden Star'', October 26, 2005.</ref> the album was best known for the single "Suicidewinder".<ref name=everettgreen/>
His subsequent albums, 2007's ''Buckles and Boots'' and 2010's ''Rabbit on My Wheel'', pursued a more conventional country sound.<ref>Mark Weber, "Ridley Bent brings country tunes to City; Wild Card, his newest project, is the latest in a line of compelling recordings". ''Red Deer Express'', February 19, 2014.</ref>
In early 2009, Bent's song "Nine Inch Nails" won in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards and Vox Pop vote for Best Country Song.<ref>Melissa Martin, "Move here in January? Must be love". ''Winnipeg Free Press'', January 24, 2009.</ref>
More recently he has toured and recorded with a new backing band, the '''Killer Tumbleweeds'''. His first album with that band, ''Ridley Bent and the Killer Tumbleweeds'', was released in 2018.<ref>Greg Vandermeulen, "Ridley Bent & The Killer Tumbleweeds". ''Morden Times'', August 22, 2019.</ref>
==Discography==
===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:12em;"| Title ! style="width:18em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Blam!'' | * Release date: 24 May 2005 * Label: MapleMusic Recordings |- ! scope="row"| ''Buckles and Boots'' | * Release date: 27 November 2007 * Label: Open Road Recordings |- ! scope="row"| ''Rabbit on My Wheel'' | * Release date: 15 June 2010 * Label: Open Road Recordings |- ! scope="row"| ''Wildcard'' | * Release date: 29 April 2014 * Label: Americana North |- ! scope="row"| ''Ridley Bent and the Killer Tumbleweeds'' | * Release date: 6 April 2018 * Label: Americana North |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! style="width:18em;"| Single ! Album |- | 2005 ! scope="row"| "Suicidewinder" | ''Blam!'' |- | rowspan="2"| 2008 ! scope="row"| "Heartland Heartbreak" | rowspan="3"| ''Buckles and Boots'' |- ! scope="row"| "Buckles and Boots" |- | 2009 ! scope="row"| "Arlington" |- | rowspan="3"| 2010 ! scope="row"| "I Can't Turn My Back on the Bottle" | rowspan="4"| ''Rabbit on My Wheel'' |- ! scope="row"| "Love Car" |- ! scope="row"| "All the Heat Is in the Whiskey" |- | 2011 ! scope="row"| "Living with Her Ex" |- | rowspan="2"| 2014 ! scope="row"| "The Most Beautiful Woman Around" | rowspan="2"| ''Wildcard'' |- ! scope="row"| "You Got Lucky"<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ladan|first1=Bruce|title=Ridley Bent releases fourth album Wildcard in Winnipeg|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/ridley-bent-releases-fourth-album-wildcard-in-winnipeg-1.2589299|accessdate=5 November 2014|work=CBC News|date=5 April 2014}}</ref> |- |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! style="width:18em;"| Video ! Director |- | 2009 ! scope="row"| "Arlington" | Christopher Mills |- |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Result ! Ref |- | rowspan="2"| 2008 | rowspan="6"| Canadian Country Music Association | Roots Artist or Group of the Year | {{nom}} | rowspan=2| <ref>"CCMA list of nominees". ''Windsor Star'', September 8, 2008.</ref> |- | Top New Talent of the Year – Male | {{nom}} |- | 2009 | Roots Artist or Group of the Year | {{nom}} | <ref>François Marchand, "And the winners could be ...". ''Regina Leader-Post'', September 10, 2009.</ref> |- | 2010 | Roots Artist or Group of the Year | {{nom}} | <ref>Elizabeth Withey, "Sounds like Job well done, Gord; New album puts Alberta singing star at head of CCMA nominations list". ''The Province'', July 29, 2010.</ref> |- | 2011 | Roots Artist or Group of the Year | {{nom}} | <ref>Jane Stevenson, "CCMA nominees announced". ''Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune'', July 28, 2011.</ref> |- | 2012 | Roots Artist or Group of the Year | {{nom}} | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.ridleybent.ca}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bent, Ridley}} Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters Category:Canadian rock singers Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters Category:Canadian people of British descent Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Halifax, Nova Scotia Category:Open Road Recordings artists Category:Canadian alternative country singers Category:Independent Music Awards winners Category:MapleMusic Recordings artists Category:21st-century Canadian male singers Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters Category:Singers from Nova Scotia