Bennie Benjamin

Claude August "Bennie" Benjamin (November 4, 1907 – May 2, 1989) was a

He studied banjo and guitar at Hy Smith's School of Music, developing a distinctive playing style, and began performing in dance bands. He played guitar and banjo with various orchestras at the Savoy Ballroom and the Cotton Club, and elsewhere, and toured with Olsen and Johnson. Although he wrote songs and attempted to sell them, he had little success until starting work at a music publishing firm, and forming a songwriting partnership in the mid-1930s with New York-born composer Sol Marcus (1912–1976). With Marcus, Eddie Durham and Eddie Seiler (1911–1952), he wrote "I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire", which was first recorded in 1941 by Harlan Leonard and his Kansas City Rockers, and then more successfully by The Ink Spots, whose version reached number 4 on the pop chart, and Horace Heidt, whose recording rose to number 1. The song won Billboard's "Top Songwriter's Award" for 1941. Benjamin, Marcus and Seiler then wrote a second number 1 hit, "When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)", recorded by Vaughn Monroe and associated in Britain with Vera Lynn.^[1][2]

In 1942, Benjamin enlisted in the

Although Benjamin and Weiss continued to work together, their hits became less frequent and their working partnership ended in 1955. Benjamin then began working again with Sol Marcus, and the pair wrote "Lonely Man", recorded by Elvis Presley; and several songs recorded by Nina Simone, including "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". The song was co-credited to Benjamin, Marcus, and Gloria Caldwell, the wife of songwriter Horace Ott. It was recorded by Simone in 1964 and was later a hit for The Animals.^[1][2][4]

Having first established a publishing company with Perry Como in 1950, Benjamin became more active as a music publisher in the 1960s, and set up Benjamin Publishing in 1965 and Bennie Benjamin Music in 1968. He was actively involved in

In later life, he became an active investor in the US Virgin Islands, and became a major stockholder in the West Indies Bank and Trust. He also became known for his charitable activities, particularly in health care in the Virgin Islands.^[1][2]

The Benjamin Foundation was established at his death. As of 2024, it has contributed over three million dollars to Virgin Islands healthcare. Foundation

He died in New York City on May 2, 1989, after a long illness.^[5]

He was married to Martha Flores from 1944 until her death in 1983.

Songs written

With Sol Marcus, Ed Durham and Ed Seiler

• "Cancel the Flowers"
• "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"
• "Strictly Instrumental"
• "When the Lights Go On Again"
• "Forever, My Darling"

With George David Weiss

• "Can Anyone Explain? (No! No! No!)"
• "Can't Wait"
• "Confess""
• "
  Cross Over the Bridge
  "
• "Echoes"
• "Fun and Fancy Free"
• "How Important Can It Be?"
• "
  I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore
  "
• "I'll Never Be Free"
• "I Ran All the Way Home"
• "Jet"
• "Rumors Are Flying"
• "Surrender"
• "To Think You've Chosen Me"
• "Wheel of Fortune"
• "Moonlight Mystery"
• "I'm Gonna Hate Myself In The Morning"
• "That Christmas Feeling"
• "Out of Breath"

with Sol Marcus

• "Always On My Mind"
• "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
• "How Can I?"
• "I Am Blessed"
• "Of This I'm Sure"
• "Our Love (Will See Us Through)"
• "Don't Take All Night"
• "I Love Your Lovin' Ways"
• "Why Keep On Breaking My Heart"
• "A Pair of Fools"
• "Fabulous Character"
• "Lonely Man"

Others

• "Anyone (Could Fall In Love With You)"

References

External links

• Bennie Benjamin at the Songwriters Hall of Fame
• Bennie Benjamin discography at Discogs
• Bennie Benjamin at
  IMDb