BEN LEVIN

He is one of only a handful of “fourth generation” boogie woogie musicians in the US. Ben started playing professionally at age 11 with his father’s band, the Heaters, and since then has played over 200 gigs in a variety of configurations: with The Heaters, or with his own band, The Ben Levin Trio. Recently, Ben won second place in the solo/duo category of the Cincinnati Blues Challenge with the Ben Levin Duo, and won first place at the Dayton Blues Challenge. This duo consists of Ben alongside his mentor and friend Ricky Nye, who went back to his musical roots to back up Ben on drums. They made it to the semi-finals at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

He has played prestigious shows/events, such as Cincinnati, OH's Cincy Blues Fest, Chicago Blues Fest, Ricky Nye’s Blues & Boogie Piano Summit, and too many clubs and restaurants to list.

2017 was a big year for Ben, as he played at the 19th annual Festival de Boogie Woogie in LaRoquebrou, France, where 5,000 blues/boogie enthusiasts from all over the world gather for three days of music and dancing. In November Ben went to Iowa City to play at Chase Garret's annual Piano Stomp at the Englert Theater, and do a mini-tour of St. Louis.

               

               

                     

                     

I started playing piano when I was eight years old, and have been taking lessons with my mentor, legendary boogie/blues player Ricky Nye ever since. In addition to Ricky, my biggest influences are Pinetop Perkins, Big Joe Duskin, and Professor Longhair.

I've been gigging around Cincinnati the past four years, and just released my first CD