The ALMIGHTY GOD, Family & Friends...Teachers, Professors & most important were those who helped to shape me spiritually, personally & ♫♫♫♫....of-course, musically.
"Total Love & Deepest Respect" to my Mother & Father- Sis. R Myers & Rev. E Myers, my Sisters & Brothers. The church & school communities i grew up in & around....Herbert Morrison Technical High--Carl Anthony" slouchy" Matthews, Snick Glenn, Professor Judith Grimes, Quincy Jones, Bassist Extraordinaire- Jaco Pastorius, Weather Report, Stanley Clarke, Return To Forever, Sting, Bob Marley & The Wailers Band/Aston Family Man Barrett on Bass & Carlton Barrett on Drums ,Dennis Brown, R.I.P Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Jonathan Butler, Musicologist- Dermot Hussey, Black Uhuru, George Benson, Patrice Rushen, Four Play,Earl Klugh, R.I.P-My Teacher/Pianist-Aubrey Adams, Ernie Ranglin-O.D., R.I.P-Wayman Tisdale, Marcus Miller, Pieces Of A Dream, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Nathan East, Anita Baker, Earth-Wind & Fire, Walter Beasley, J.,Spencer, David Sanborn, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Chicago, Journey, Glen 'Godfather' Brownie, The Jackson 5, Robbie Lyn, Toots & The Maytals, Ken Boothe, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, Phil Collins, Prince,The Police, Ken Boothe, Sly & Robbie, Augustus Pablo, Aswad, Bob James, Jeff Lorber, The Whispers, Johnson Brothers, Grainger Grainger,Oscer Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Seal, R.I.P -Donavan" Timer" Forbes,The Riddim Kings Band & all my previous Bands,Vocalist/Pianist- R.I.P -Tony Dacosta, R.I.P -Winston Wright,...just to name a few...and all those who had believed in me from the very early days..!
♫♫ Genus::Classical, Jazz, Mento, Rocksteady, Roots, Dub, Reggae, Lovers Rock, R&B, Urban, Pop, Rock Folk, Alternative, Funk, Fusion, Latin,World Beat and a few emerging after all those.
“A fine line separates musicians who play music to live and those who live to play music. I live to play music… it is my life”...Benjy Myaz
About Benjy Myaz
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Benjy Myaz was born in a little town called Haddington, Hanover, on the island of Jamaica. He and his other seven musical siblings were exposed to music at an early age, playing with the band in their fathers church. Benjy quickly learned the guitar and was always eager to play at devotions in primary school and do rehearsals with the church groups. He went on to study music at Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay. After leaving school in 1984, Benjy taught music for two years at the high school level and began further studies with private tutors earning tertiary accreditation from the London Royal School of Music.
Benjy’s professional musical career began when he started working in Jamaica’s tourist industry, playing in most of the north coast hotels for nearly eight years. During that time, Benjy applied and received a scholarship to Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Faith, in its divinity, wouldn’t have it that way. He, however, went on to develop skills in bass playing, arranging, songwriting and music production and his career as a musician is credited to his vast knowledge about music.
The musician has command of at least seven instruments, with his first love being the Bass. This he owes to diligent studies and an innate love for music. According to Benjy, “When a musician is formally trained, it allows him or her to appreciate the origin and growth of music. It gives you deeper perspective about your craft.”
As a producer, he got his first big break in 1986 when he arranged and produced a remake of Brooke Bentons classic “So Many Ways”, performed by Dennis Malcolm, which went to the number one position in Jamaica, England and New York. With hopes of touring as a bassist, Benjy became a member of the Rhythm Kings Band, touring with several artistes including Jimmy Cliff, Culture, Toots and the Maytals, Shinehead and J.C. Lodge. His other credits include appearing as a bassist for the chorale, Sounds of Blackness and also Jimmy Cliff.
During this period he realized his other dreams, singing, writing and arranging music. The nineties afforded him the opportunity to produce, write, arrange and collaborate with top Reggae/Pop/Gospel/Folk/Urban recording artists such as Third World, Garnet Silk, Ken Boothe, Joan Myers, Pam Hall, Michael St. George, Bankie Banx, Freddie McGregor and Jazz Pianist Onajae Allan Gumbs.
Myaz has co-produced several projects with ace producer, Bobby Digital, including tracks on Sizzla’s album, The Real Thing and Capleton’s Reign of Fire among others. He has also produced several musical projects for Fyah Wyah, Joanna Marie and most recently,
Hal Anthony who has completed and released his 2008 debut album called
" Reggae Man ah Come" produced by Benjy for his own production house and label-
My Werks Music/Productions.
As a solo act, he performed alongside international artists Jeffrey Osbourne, James Ingram, Gladys Knight, Angie Stone, Kevon Edmonds, Bankie Banx and most recently with Peabo Bryson at the Buzz Production’s “To Mom With Love” concert series held in Jamaica. He performed at World Food Day (Nov.2000) at James Bond Beach, Ocho Rios, Reggae Sumfest (Jamaica’s premier music festival) and the Jamaica Jazz Festival.
Benjy says one highlight of his career, was performing his first single, a cover of Love You Higher at the Prime Ministers Ball in 2000, alongside international recording artiste Randy Crawford, who had originally recorded the song, to her surprise and delight. He had released the cover 1995 prior to that memorable performance and it had been receiving massive airplay and has become a classic in the annals of reggae music
On the international scene, Benjy toured Japan following the launch of his album Time Together to promote its release. He also performed at Midem 97 (France); and Anguillas annual Moonsplash, held in March 2007, where he appeared as bassist and musical director for Bankie Banx, and has been since 1997. In 1999 he received a Nomination Medal & Certificate from the Grammy Committee for being a part of Toots and the Maytals Grammy-nominated album.
To date, Benjy has released three albums. His Debut Album Intimate Relationship was released in the U.S. in 1997. Time Together, released in Jamaica and Japan in 1998 and the U.S. in 2000 (VP Records). His own label, My Werks Music, released Long Story Short, the third vocal album, in November 2005. Prior to completing Long Story Short, Benjy produced an instrumental album entitled You’ve Got Me -- the first of its kind ever produced in Jamaica - featuring the sound of the Bass as the lead instrument up front which is being prepared for mastering and packaging.
Music lovers are going to love experiencing this side of Benjy Myaz. In order to accomplish the variations, he utilized his knowledge of other instruments to transform the bassists melodies. He states, “The Bass was always an accompanying rather than a lead instrument and the concept was to create melodies and not make them sound repetitious or monotonous”.
This instrumental album he says “was strongly inspired by fusion musicians like Herbie Hancock, George Duke and in particular, bass players Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Jaco Pastorius. It has international appeal, but does not leave out the ‘Reggae feel’, which, Benjy says “…brings back the album to its grass roots".
Benjy continues to tour and perform in Jamaica and on the international scene, always creating new music and recording new sounds. According to Benjy, “I am about chasing creativity, not the competition".
For Information & Bookings:
Contact:
My'Werks Music/Productions
Vmail:
876 808-7232
Email:
mywerks.music@gmail.com / mywerks@yahoo.com
Official Website:
www.benjymyaz.com
Other Website:
www.myspace.com/mywerks.music
Other Website:
www.linkedin.com/in/benjymyaz
Interests:
GOD ALMIGHTY, Spirituality, Mankind, Music Production & Music Preservation.To be apart of a "Gobal Contributory Factor" which helps to sustain the cohesive existence of mankind on a global level using music as a part of that "Factor".Helping the less fortunate where & when i can impinge on such situations. Music/Film Production & Live Performances. Working with Autistic Children & Conducting Master Classes in Creative Music Education
Honors & Awards:
Top Music Student -Herbert Morrison Tech. High.-1979-1984.
Certificates from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools Of Music, UK 1979-1984. Certificate of Merit for Music/Tuba Solo- Jamaica Cultural Development Commission-1985
Awarded scholarship to Berklee Collage of Music by the
Berklee Professional Music Scholarship Fund ,Boston, USA -1988-89 academic year. JamPro's Trophy for Outstanding Contribution Midem Cannes, France 1997.
Trophy for Participating Judge - AB'S Talent Parade Kgn.- 1998.
Bronz Medal/Certificate from the NARAS for participation & productions in Toots & The Maytals "Ska Father" 41st Grammy Nominated -Best Reggae Album -1998.
Most Consistent Caribbean Artist - Detriot, Michigan USA- 2000..Jamaica Federation Of Music Cornwall County, Most Oustanding Achiever -2000.Certificate of Appreciation-Griot Music event series-"Caribbean Escape"-2001....to name a few...!
My Comment Box
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The news here in Blighty is that there is hurricane along the coast of Florida--leaving 8 dead. Hmmmm! Not far from Belize where I stayed. That is a lucky escape. Hope all is well with you in beautiful Jamaica. I want to visit during the Spring half term--me and my almost 6ft son. He can be my body guard. He told my next door neighbour recently that--"you can get a kiss on your cheek today from my Mom because it is your birthday--but tomorrow I shall break your neck." So I shall be ok in Jamaica if I did visit. Have you any shows on in the pipeline? It would be nice to see you in Action. Met a crowd of "Jammies" in Belize two weeks ago, and the talk got around to music. So I asked after you. "Oh, Benjy Myaz? Yeah man! He's my good friend man!" said one of them. I was a little excited by that. So I asked him to go on. "Oh I saw him perform at the Ronnie Williams Center on Mother's day. He sang three songs. He was terrific! After the show, I went over and shook his hand and told him that was great stuff man. He thanked me and went to join his group". So I smiled. He is my good friend man? I later learnt that you were not good friends at all, but just someone he had just met. I love these little stories. But at least you are known, and you are not an enigma. Keep it in the limelight Benjy. I love that! As I said before, there is no use in pursuing something if you cannot make it happen. Your motto is pursuing the creativity--or something like that. Keep strutting your stuff. Keep your head up, smile as much as you can--it prevents wrinkles, and lightens the heart, and stay focussed. You have the strength and the stamina, and I know that you have the creativity as well. You will make it. I feel it in my old bones. Sending you my very best wishes for this month. I value and thank you for being my friend. Just be the very best that you can--and do it all for you!!! From PL.
" Do you realize just how strong your heart is? It endures pain and it still beats. It feels loss and still beats. It also feels the emptiness others leave us with and still beats. Our hearts are our body's best defense to any pain it may receive and it still goes. Our heart speaks to us everyday and tells us to never give up and always believe that things will get better, no matter how much it hurt before."
" Fear is looking at the opposite direction of faith. It is concentrating on the impossible rather than the possible. It is the master of the coward, the prison of the ignorant, the toothless bulldog that threatens entrance into the room of abundance."
It seems like a life time since I have been here. The two weeks were not enough at all. Spent most of the time asleep and when I am awake?----eating. Yet I have lost so much weight. No longer the fattie I was on my birthday. Have good and bad days. The bad days are really bad, but I keep smiling. I missed you and yes, delighted to have had your lovely messages which I have added to my message board. A ray of sunshine--you little trouper! I am delighted to hear of your accomplishments. That is how it MUST be until you reach that goal post BM. Just keep your eyes on the prize, and let nothing nor no one deter you--not even a demanding Princess like me. Oh I like attention all right, but you know me! I will never change. Part and parcel of my make up. Any way--I want to hear all the gossip about what you are doing and how you are doing. I love a good success story, and it is time that some big fire works begin to happen for you. Be good to yourself in the process, and thank you for being such a fantastic friend to me. Know something? I love the way that you are--never demanding--there cannot be two of us in this world you know? And you always have the time for your friends, fans and family. You are a good Lad BM. Mother must be very proud of having such a model son. Father must be proud that a tiny part of you is a chip off the old block, and the world is lucky to have you among its inhabitants. Be well keep happy, stay focussed, and thank you for being my very sweet best friend. God Bless you dear BM. From Trouble herself--PL.
Thanks for the uplift ALL IS WELL. BLESSINGS TO YOU FRIEND AND MAY TODAY BE FIILLED IN ABUNDANCE AND PEACE MAY YOU BE CONTINUOUSLY STRENGTHENED IN ALL YOU DO. ~NILAH~
