Benjamin Smoke

Infobox musical artist
Name = Benjamin


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =Robert Dickerson
Alias = Benjamin
Born = 28th January, 1960
Died = 29th January, 1999 (age 39)
Origin = flagicon|USA Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Sexuality = homosexual
Instrument = Vocals, Bass
Genre = Punk rock Indie rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1970s–1990s
Label =
Associated Acts =Smoke Opal Foxx Quartet
URL = [http://www.benjaminremembered.com Benjamin Smoke Remembered]

Benjamin (born Robert Dickerson) was a musician who fronted the Atlanta, Georgia band Smoke. He was noted for being a homosexual, with a punk rock appearance. [cite web|title=Benjamin Smoke|accessdate=2007-09-03|work=Rotten Tomatoes |url=http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/benjamin_smoke/about.php] He died on the January 29, 1999 due to liver failure caused by Hepatitis C at age 39. He was the subject of a documentary released in 2000 called "Benjamin Smoke" directed by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen, filming for which took 10 years.

History

Benjamin lived for many years in Cabbagetown, a neighborhood in Atlanta, an "unsafe" area peopled with hustlers and eccentrics. There, he occasionally dressed up as a drag queencite web|title=Benjamin Smoke (2000)|accessdate=2007-09-03|work= |url=http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Smoke-Dickerson/dp/B00007KK2I] from a young age. When he was just nine years old he would appear in public wearing woman’s clothing, "with a towel on my head like Whoopi (Goldberg), going to the Waffle House in a dress".cite web|title=Benjamin Smoke|accessdate=2007-09-03|work=Film Journal |url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000697246] In New York he found work at the famed club CBGB's, which he described as "the filthiest place I ever was". He earned $20 a day, his duties consisted of sweeping up broken glass left by performers and audiences the evening prior.

Benjamin was a known character in the underground scene in 1980s Atlanta and participated in a number of Atlanta music experiments such as Easturn Stars, Monroe is Naked Again, Freedom Puff, Blade Emotion,and the Opal Foxx Quartet, though the group would often have up to 12 members. His bands played in such venues as 688, Celebrity Club, Pillowtex, Destroy All Music Festival, among others.cite web|title=Smoke: Another Reason to Fast|accessdate=2007-09-03|work=CD Baby|url= http://cdbaby.com/cd/smokemusic1] For the band, Benjamin donned the stage name "Miss Opal Foxx". [cite web|title=Benjamin Smoke|accessdate=2007-09-01|work=phase9tv |url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:G49j2U1qky0J:www.phase9.tv/movies/benjaminsmoke.shtml+Benjamin+Smoke+Robert+Dickerson&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au] During this time his vocals received media attention and Tom Waits comparisons arose. His voice has since been described as "resembling the roar of a wounded lion". After some of the musicians of the group died tragically, the band Smoke 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 on-stage banter, never shying away from provoking his viewers, "for a faggot, do I have a rockin' band or what?"

Benjamin was addicted to the drug speed and he also had AIDS, though he claimed "HIV is not a death sentence". AIDS brought him closer to his estranged mother, though he eventually lost his life due to Hepatitis C.

Bands

*Smoke (band)
*Opal Foxx Quartet
*Baby Weemus
*Freedom Puff
*Easturn Stars
*Medicine Suite

Discography

*"Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection" CD (1994, Daemon Records) [cite web|title=Jesus Christ: A Resurrection|accessdate=2008-01-05|work=Amazon.com |url=http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Christ-Superstar-Resurrection-Studio/dp/samples/B0000018CA/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2] Disc 1
# Overture - Dew
# Heaven On Their Minds - Michael Lorant
# What's The Buzz - Amy Ray/Emily Sailers
# Strange Thing Mystifying - Michael Lorant/Amy Ray
# Everything's Alright - Emily Sailers/Michael Lorant/Amy Ray
# This Jesus Must Die - Benjamin/Mike Mantone
# Hosanna - Mike Mantone/Amy Reed
# Simon Zealotes - Kelly Hogan
# Poor Jerusalem - Amy Reed
# Pilate's Dream - Gerard McHugh
# The Temple - Amy Reed
# Everything's Alright (Reprise) - Emily Saliers/Amy Reed
# I Don't Know How To Love Him - Emily Saliers
# Damned For All Time/Blood Money - Michael Lorant/Mike Mantione/Benjamin Disc 2
# The Last Supper - Michael Lorant/Amy Ray
# Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Amy Ray
# The Arrest - Michael Lorant/Amy Ray/Matt Brown/Benjamin/Mike Mantione
# Peter's Denial - Anne Richmond Boston/Matt Brown/Jeff Jensen/Bill Decker/Emily Sailers
# Pilate And Christ - Gerard McHugh/Rob Gal/Amy Ray
# King Herod's Song - Dave Clair
# Judas' Death - Michael Lorant/Mike Mantione/Benjamin
# Trial Before Pilate - Gerard McHugh/Benjamin/Amy Reed/Rob Gal
# Superstar - Social Insanity
# Crucifixion - Amy Reed
# John 19:41 - Revelation String Quartet

(with Opal Foxx Quartet)
*"The Love That Won't Shut Up" CD (1994, LongPlay Records) [cite web | title = The Love That Won't Shut Up; | work = Amazon.com | url= http://www.amazon.com/Love-That-Wont-Shut-Up/dp/B000008FRF/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0673938-3720636?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1192918963&sr=8-1 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]
# Clean White Bed
# Frail Body
# Blue Exception
# Sleep
# Tub of Love Rumble
# Nightingale
# MTM
# Christmas
# Dirt
# I Don't Know How to Love Him/Strange Fruit
# AliensTrack 1 written by Tracy Snow.Track 2 written by Grady Cousins.Track 4 written by Debbey Richardson.Track 5 is Deacon Lunchbox sleeping in the back of a truck.Track 7 is The Mary Tyler Moore Show Theme Song, "Love is All Around."Track 10 is a medley of the song from Jesus Christ Superstar and the Billie Holiday song.Track 11 written and performed by Deacon Lunchbox.

(with RARA Percussion and Horn Ensemble)
*"House of the Rising Sun" 7" (1994)
# House of the Rising Sun
# Love Song for the Widow ParisNOTE: Benjamin sang on the a-side. The b-side is instrumental. This record was limited to 300 copies.

(with Smoke (band)
*"Dirt" 7" (199?)
# Dirt
# Pretend
*"Heaven on a Popsicle Stick" CD (1994, LongPlay Records)
# Hole
# Awake
# Freak (Winn's Song)
# The Trip
# Hank Aaron (lyrics by Dana Kletter)
# Luke's Feet
# Beeper Will
# The Pond
# I Do
# Ballet
# Guilt
# Abigail
# Curtains
*"Another Reason To Fast" CD (1995, LongPlay Records)
# Trust
# Friends
# When It Rains
# Clean White Bed
# Shadow Box
# Dream
# Fatherland
# Train Song
# Debbey's Song
# Chad
# That Look
# I Don't
# Snake

Compilation appearances

(with Freedom Puff)
*"Low Life 17" LP (1993, RRRecords) [cite web | title = Compilation: Low life 17; | work = Borft.com | url= http://www.borft.com/details.php?ProdID=235 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ] Side a:
# Tinnitus - Seven Minutes or Less
# Cake (Tracy Snow) - Blue Moles
# Cake (Tracy Snow) - I Want to Sleep
# Freedom Puff - Visiting with the White Rock Girl
# Freedom Puff - 2 Dixie Cups and a String Side b:
# Murray Reams & Paul Hoskin - The Dispossessed
# Murray Reams & Paul Hoskin - Submission
# I See the Moon - Somnambulist Waltz
# I See the Moon - Snellville
# Dairy Queen Empire - The World
# Dairy Queen Empire - Burning

NOTE: Benjamin played bass in Freedom Puff.

(with Smoke)
* "?" CD (1992)
# Smoke - DogThe lineup on this song was Benjamin, Bill Taft, Brian Halloran, and Todd Butler. This CD was a benefit compilation.

* "Radio Oddyssey Volume 2: The Georgia Music Show" CD (1997 Altered Records/Ichiban) [cite web | title = Radio Oddssey, Vol. 2: The Georgia Music Show; | work = Amazon.com | url= http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Oddssey-Vol-Georgia-Music/dp/B000000N0Y | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]
# The Rock*A*Teens - Black Ice
# The Continentals - Please, Please
# Pineal Ventana - Dark Cloud
# DQE - Mermaid And The Sailor
# #1 Family Mover - Hey Soul
# Bob - Ants
# Velvet Overkill Five - Pillow Talk
# The Goodies - Live On WRAS-FM
# Tweezer - Sucking Midgets
# Marcy - Driver
# Heinous Bienfang - Stay Behind The Cones
# Babyfat - Redd Lobster
# Frontstreet - Scandinavian Pamphlet (Sex Book)
# 17 Years - Doing Wrong
# Smoke - Hamlet
# Benjamin - Big Daddy Story and Other Saucy Tales
* "Rudy's Rockin' Kiddie Caravan" CD (1997 Bloodshot Records) [cite web | title = Rudy's Rockin' Kiddie Caravan; | work = Bloodshot Records and Bloodshot Records Compilations | url= http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/bloodshotrecordscompilations/136 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]
# Susie Honeyman - Bus
# Schoolly D - This Old Man
# Smoke - Old Joe Clark
# Calexico - The Man on the Flying Trapeze
# The Waco Brothers - Them Bones
# Giant Sand - Blow the Man Down
# Anne Richmond Boston - What Can the Matter Be?
# D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces - J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte?
# Zydeco Elvis - The ABC Song
# Sally Timms - Hush Little Baby
# New Orleans Klezmer All Stars - Nokas for the Kinder
# The Chiselers - Playmate
# The Rock*A*Teens - She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
# Moonshine Willy - Skip to My Lou
# Kelly Hogan - The Great Titanic
# The Black Mama Dharma Band - A Frozen Road
# Mekons - Oranges & Lemons
# New Kingdom - John Henry
# Rob Gal - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
# Blacktop Rockets - Froggy Went A-Courtin'
# Vic Chesnutt - Home on the Range
# The Grifters - The Muffin Man

* "Hidden Tracks] " CD (2000, Daemon Records) [cite web | title = Hidden Tracks; | work = Daemon Records | url= http://www.daemonrecords.com/hidden_tracks/index.htm | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]

# Kick Me - Arms
# Smoke - Midnight
# DQE - Ivytwine
# Parlour - The Cold Snap
# Kick Me - Black Coat
# Kick Me - Blue Midnight
# Parlour - Baby Doll
# Bill Taft & Neil Fried - Old West
# Smoke - Pretend
# Palookaville - Seventh Day
# Long Flat Red - Eighty-Six Days
# Railroad Earth - Keep Seeing That Soul
# Kick Me - Lucky Nights
# The Hollidays - Miles Away

(with Big Fish Ensemble)
* "Star Power" Compilation CD (1998, Pravda) [cite web | title = Star Power; | work = FYE | url= http://www.fye.com/viewproduct.htm?productId=166467&extid=df00033 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ] 16. Big Fish Ensemble - I Am Woman (Helen Reddy Cover)

References

Persondata
NAME= Benjamin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Dickerson, Robert; Smoke, Benjamin
SHORT DESCRIPTION= musician
DATE OF BIRTH= 28 January, 1960
PLACE OF BIRTH= Atlanta, Georgia, United States
DATE OF DEATH= 29 January, 1999
PLACE OF DEATH=