Benjamin Orr 593709 224595503 2008-07-09T16:03:58Z 172.129.157.203 /* Singles */ {{otherpeople|Benjamin Orr}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = Benjamin Orr | Img = | Img_capt = | Img_size = Ben Orr (1979) | Landscape = | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Benjamin Bogdonavich Orzechowski | Alias = | Born = [[August 9]] [[1947]] | Died = {{death date and age|2000|10|3|1947|09|08}} | Origin = [[Lakewood, Ohio]] | Instrument = [[bass guitar]] | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Pop music|Pop]] | Occupation = [[musician]], [[singer]], [[songwriter]] | Years_active = 1964 - 2000 | Label = Elektra/Asylum | Associated_acts = [[The Cars]] | URL = [http://www.rockforever.com/singers/orr/orr.html Tribute site] | Current_members = | Past_members = | Notable_instruments = }} '''Benjamin Orr''' ([[August 9]] [[1947]] &ndash; [[October 3]] [[2000]]) was the [[bass guitar]] player and one of the [[vocalist]]s for the [[New Wave music|New Wave]] band [[The Cars]]. He sang several of The Cars' greatest hits, including "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go" and "[[Drive (The Cars song)|Drive]]". ==Career== Born '''Benjamin Orzechowski''' in [[Lakewood, Ohio]] to [[Russians|Russian]] and [[Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovak]] parents, who actively supported his musical endeavors. He became proficient in several instruments including the [[guitar]], bass guitar, [[keyboards]], and [[drums]]. Known locally as 'Benny 11-Letters', he grew up in [[Lakewood, Ohio]] and [[Parma, Ohio]] and dropped out of [[Valley Forge High School]] to join a local band The Grasshoppers as lead singer and guitarist. The Grasshoppers were the house band on the syndicated TV show Upbeat produced by [[WEWS-TV]] in [[Cleveland]]. In 1965, the Grasshoppers released two singles on the Sunburst label, "Mod Socks" and "Pink Champagne (And Red Roses)", the latter written by Orzechowski. The Grasshoppers dissolved in 1966 after Orzechowski was drafted, although he received a deferment after only a few months in the service. Around 1970 Orr moved to [[Columbus, Ohio]], where he met [[Ric Ocasek]] and formed a musical partnership that would continue through to the end of his life. Along with lead guitarist Jas Goodkind, the two formed a folk band called Milkwood. The group released one album ''How's the Weather'' in 1972 which failed to chart. By the mid 1970s Orr was working in a [[Boston]] [[night club]] [[musical band|band]], Cap'n Swing, with other members including future Cars leader [[Ric Ocasek]] and guitarist [[Elliot Easton]]. When the group broke up in 1975, the three of them joined up with keyboardist [[Greg Hawkes]] and drummer [[David Robinson (musician)|David Robinson]] to form [[The Cars]] in 1976. As a key member of The Cars, Orr's biggest success came with the song "[[Drive (The Cars song)|Drive]]" where he was featured on lead vocals and had a part as the storyteller in the accompanying [[music video]]. The song reached #3 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] charts. After several top [[Chart-topper|hits]] and multi-[[gold disc|platinum]] [[record album|albums]] with The Cars, he released his only solo project ''[[The Lace (Benjamin Orr album)|The Lace]]'' in [[1986 in music|1986]]. He co-wrote all music and [[lyrics]], and the album had one [[Top 40]] hit, "Stay the Night". A second single "Too Hot to Stop" was also released, but did not chart in the Hot 100. The album had a very familiar rhythm and feel of [[The Cars]] but was also free of Ocasek's frequently cryptic lyrics. The album cover for ''The Lace'' was shot by [[Jean Renard]] and featured Ben Orr on the front and his co-writer Diane Grey Page on the back. The video for "Stay the Night" went on to number one on both MTV and VH1, and Orr won an ASCAP award for the song. Orr continued to work with [[The Cars]] for one more album before their subsequent break-up in 1988, after which he and the other members pursued solo work. Between 1987-1989 Orr recorded tracks with guitarist John Kalishes for an unreleased follow-up to The Lace. From 1998 until his death in 2000, he performed with three bands, including his own band "ORR", The Voices of Classic Rock, and Big People. ==Illness and Death== In April 2000, he was diagnosed with [[pancreatic cancer]] and subsequently hospitalized <ref name=hospital>MTV reports Benjamin Orr hospitalized [http://www.mtv.com/search/?searchterm=ORR&searchtype=all#/news/articles/1426984/05242000/cars.jhtml]</ref>, yet continued to perform in concerts with the band [[Big People]], at summer [[music festival]]s and [[state fair]]s. He reunited with all the former members of [[The Cars]] one last time in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] for an interview that was used in a [[Rhino Records]] [[video]] and [[DVD]] of a German [[concert]] performed in 1979, ''The Cars Live''. His final public appearance was on [[September 27]] [[2000]] in a Big People concert in Anchorage, [[Alaska]]. Six days later, he passed away at his home in [[Atlanta]], on Tuesday night, [[October 3]] [[2000]], aged 53, surrounded by manager Billy Johnson and Big People band members Jeff Carlisi, [[Derek St. Holmes]] and Rob Wilson <ref name=death>MTV reports Benjamin Orr's death [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426983/20001004/story.jhtml#/news/articles/1426983/20001004/story.jhtml]</ref>. Big People still performs his classic Cars hits. Orr was also survived by his 5-year-old son, Ben, from a previous relationship. [[Ric Ocasek]] wrote and recorded the song "Silver" which was his musical tribute to Ben. It appeared on Ocasek's 2005 solo album [[Nexterday]]. ==Solo discography== *''[[The Lace (Benjamin Orr album)|The Lace]]'' (1986 [[Elektra Records]]) #86 US ===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Song ! <small>Canada ! <small>[[Billboard Hot 100|US Hot 100]]</small> ! <small>[[Mainstream Rock Tracks|US <br>Mainstream Rock]]</small> ! <small>[[Adult Contemporary chart|US <br>A/C]]</small> ! Album |- | [[1986 in music|1986]] | "Stay The Night" | align="center"|31 | align="center"|24 | align="center"|6 | align="center"|2 | ''The Lace'' |- | [[1987 in music|1987]] | "Too Hot To Stop" | align="center"|- | align="center"|- | align="center"|25 | align="center"|- | ''The Lace'' |} ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0i5zef5k7gf1~T1 Benjamin Orr biography] - All Music Guide *[http://www.rockforever.com/singers/orr/orr.html Benjamin Orr bio & discography] - Voices of Classic Rock {{The Cars}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Orr, Benjamin}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:2000 deaths]] [[Category:Bass guitarists]] [[Category:Czech-Americans]] [[Category:Ohio musicians]] [[Category:Pancreatic cancer deaths]] [[Category:People from Atlanta, Georgia]] [[Category:People from Cleveland, Ohio]] [[Category:People from Lakewood, Ohio]] [[Category:Russian-Americans]] [[Category:The Cars members]] [[it:Benjamin Orr]] [[fi:Benjamin Orr]]