Benton

There is more to Benton Blount than meets the eye. Behind the tattoos and towering 6’4” height, is a man of great talent and strong faith. Benton’s hard work and dedication has brought him many opportunities, especially in the music industry. It was in his hometown of Valdese, North Carolina that Benton first began this path to music.



Benton is rooted in family in faith. His single mom kept a close eye on her son during his childhood, investing everything in him. "She was really strict on me, and she had to be. Mom knew what she had to do to make me the person I am today. But once I turned 16, she became my best friend as well as the person whose opinion I value most."



Benton began singing in church, and it wasn’t long before people started to notice that he had an amazing voice. Even though he was blessed with musical talent, Benton did not pursue his musical gifts until much later. He had another dream, football. Benton lived and breathed the sport through his middle and high school years, and his enthusiasm paid off. During his senior year, he received several offers to continue playing in college.



One summer, Benton's focus shifted from the field to the concert stage when he attended a church youth service with friend Wes Brown – who plays guitar with him to this day. The youth group was launching a band, and offered to buy Benton a bass guitar if he'd learn to play. Within weeks, the left-handed musician was hooked on the instrument. He definitely impressed the music director because shortly after, Benton took the lead. "They took me off bass guitar by the end of that third week and made me lead vocalist," Benton explains. "It just kind of fell into place right there -- just spur of the moment."



His first public performance was in front of 1500 people, and the group quickly booked 25 concert dates from that one gig. "Almost instantly, we went from being a church band to something much more." This touring success catapulted the band, 7-Miles, to release a CD of original songs. "We put out seven independent records, and we probably sold 35,000 to 40,000 copies," Benton recalls. "For an independent band that just toured the Carolinas, that's impressive. We played 200 -225 dates a year, more than some artists with record deals."



Benton began songwriting, and because of his deep soul-tinged voice he was drawn to write country songs. This inspired him to take a trip to Nashville. While working out at a gym near Music Row, Benton was offered a job as a trainer. He considered the opportunity a sign to relocate to Music City and try his hand at a Country Music career.



Musically, Benton draws from his early rock, country and soul influences to create his own unique spot in today's country landscape. He grew up playing the hits of Edwin McCain and Hootie & The Blowfish on guitar, and now sees his own style emerging. His style and lyrical talents developed as he pulled inspiration from his past relationships, small town life, and the faith that has seen him through his myriad of experiences. He soon gained the attention of McCain's guitar player, Larry Chaney. Larry had passed Benton's country demos onto renowned producer and engineer Noel Golden, best known for his work with Guns-N-Roses and Matchbox 20. Out of the demos, a particular tune, “Remember”, caught the notice of Golden. After hearing this song, The Golden Music team realized they had a star on their hands and moved quickly to sign Benton. Benton remembers, “Without even seeing me play live, they flew me to Greenville, South Carolina and asked me to sign a record deal."



Soon after, the North Carolina band, Parmalee, presented Benton with the dynamic-yet-homesick song, “Carolina”. “To me, it is a perfect country song. It’s about a girl this guy is in love with, but he's always away from her. I put another spin on it though. Since moving to Nashville, 'Carolina' has actually made me think of my Mom who's living back in North Carolina,” says Benton. He and Noel hit the studio to record “Carolina” and other tracks for his first solo album.



One tune that addresses his history and this pivotal moment in his life, is "Drive," which he co-wrote with friend and label-mate Charlie Hutto of country group Williams Riley. "I could've decided to settle down in Valdese, but I felt like I was being pulled to do something else. So, instead of being scared and not taking a risk, I just basically had to get in the car and drive. That song is about chasing your dreams and not letting fear keep you from reaching your goals."



This fearlessness is heard in his music as well as seen in his magnetic performances, thus allowing him to attract a diverse audience that spans generations. "At a show, I'll see 50 or 60 year old couples having as good a time as the college crowd. Beyond that, parents can bring their kids because they know my show isn't going to be vulgar. I like to think that my music appeals to everyone."



No doubt fans across the country will get to know Benton and his music in the coming months as he launches his debut single, “Carolina”, and continues to produce a superior sound, product, and performance that is larger than life.