During the summer of 2000, Orr reunited with the rest of the Cars to film the documentary Live, which was scheduled for release in November of that year by Rhino Home Video. Ben Orr - Biography - IMDb Hutton was particularly taken with "Drive," a slick, romantic soft rock ballad that represented a departure for the power pop/New Wave band. Jeff Carlisi, formerly .38 Special, played with Orr in a band called Big People, who toured until Orr became too sick to go on the road. Meanwhile, Ocaseks estranged wife, the supermodel Paulina Porizkova, released a heartbreaking family statement on Instagram. In 1970, Orr moved to Columbus, Ohio and met New and Upcoming Science Fiction and Fantasy, View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Casual listeners may not have realized the band had two singers because their voices are tough to distinguish from each other. Benjamin Orr They bluffed to get gigs by telling the club owners that they played "covers" (the hit songs of the day), then launched into their original songs -- a practice that sometimes got them fired from the gig. Ric Ocasek is dead. Matuska described Orr as a brother and then went to praise his geniality. Rick Ocasek, the other founder of 'The Cars', has written the song 'Silver' and recorded it to give a tribute to Benjamin Orr. Following its Live Aid exposure, the record was re-promoted and went into the charts for the second time. He recalled the different events that led up to his joining the Cars in 1977. In 1994, while the other Cars reunited for rehearsals, Orr debuted his new band - called simply Orr. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Tweaking its sound and lineup weren't the only things Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, and other members of Cap'n Swing had to address as they went forward. Dropping out of high school, he earned a living as a session guitarist and as a member of local Cleveland TV show Upbeat. But he wasn't the only Car who made some noise Benjamin Orr took lead vocals on seminal songs like "Just What I Needed," "Drive," and "Moving in Stereo." Steve Dudas, who worked with the Grasshoppers as a roadie, remembered Orr as extremely talented, often funny, sometimes serious, and introspective. Sunburst label and dissolved in 1967 after two members were drafted. WebATLANTA (AP) _ Benjamin Orr, the bass player of the popular 1980s group The Cars who also sang some of the bands most popular songs, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer. About 25% of cases of pancreatic cancer can be traced to smoking (it is the biggest risk factor). (modern). Ric Ocasek Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com They were accompanied by a guitarist named James Goodkind. Sartori recommended Robinson because Cap'n Swing's first attempts to go national had failed. This manager proposed a Cars reunion on behalf of his clients, but Ocasek gave him a hard no. did Benjamin Orr die Known locally as "Benny 11-Letters", Orr MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Bop Shop: Songs From Thundercat And Tame Impala, Aiza, Honey Revenge, And More, Jessie Ware Understands That Dancing Is Freedom, On her new album 'That! Orr was performing rigorously throughout the summer of the same year in different state fairs and music festivals. WebThe Lace is the only solo studio album by American rock and roll singer Benjamin Orr, best known for his work with The Cars.It was released on October 6, 1986, by Elektra Records and features his only solo hit, the song, "Stay the Night", which reached the top 40 in 1987.A follow-up single "Too Hot to Stop" was also released but failed to chart. The Cars, arguably the definitive band of the 1980s, came together as the result of a very 1960s phenomenon: a local variety show. GettyModel Paulina Porizkova and her husband musician Ric Ocasek attend the launch of Living It Up! Benjamin Orr, 53, Rock Musician Who Was a Founder of the Cars TalkBassists Profiles IV: BEN ORR We, his family and friends, are completely and utterly devastated by his untimely and unexpected death and would appreciate the privacy to mourn in private., A post shared by Paulina Porizkova (@paulinaporizkov) on Sep 16, 2019 at 8:44am PDT. Benjamin Orr, the well-known bassist, was in a long-time relationship with Diane Grey Page, who was also a singer herself, and she was a co-writer of his album 'The Lace'. ", "You Might Think" is arguably the Cars' most memorable song, and that's probably because of its unforgettable music video. In 1970, Orr moved to Columbus, Ohio and met We appreciate the great outpouring of love. "I'm not proud of the lyrics to 'Shake It Up.'" By ABC News October 5, 2000 -- Benjamin Orr, singer-bassist for new wave icons the Cars, died Tuesday night in his Atlanta home, after a five-month battle with pancreatic cancer. The memorial commenced with an introduction by Michael Stanley, who recalled the various occasions on which he had met Orr and described him as a cross between Elvis and Paul McCartney. Throughout the course of the evening, Stanley would introduce speakers with a certain levity (he made numerous jokes about their deteriorating eyesight) and continually expressed his admiration for Orr. If you have knowledge or information that you think would help us improve this article, please contact us. The Lace The Untold Truth Of The Cars - Grunge From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Previously, he fronted the house band of the TV rock show Upbeat, and was leader of a local group, The Grasshoppers. He was 53. This answer is: That was the prevailing attitude." Orr introduced himself to singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek at a band rehearsal. Read Full Biography, Benjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes." Orr died of pancreatic cancer in 2000, and Ocasek paid tribute with the song "Silver.". Subsequently he moved from Vermont to Atlanta, and joined a band of rock veterans called Big People. Orr died of pancreatic cancer in 2000, but in 2011, the surviving members of The Cars reunited and released a new album, Move Like This. He had the look, and he had the attitude. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. He played bass, keyboards, and percussion Orr sang lead on "Drive" and "Just What I Needed.". 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Johnson said a public memorial service in Cleveland is being planned. mellow musician. The memorial concluded with a moving slide show, which featured pictures of Orr from infancy through his various bands, to the musical accompaniment of the Orr-sung Cars song Drive and Orrs own Stay the Night. actively encouraged his musical endeavors. instruments in his teen years. ""Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. The Cars had begun to lose momentum, though Orr showed he could function successfully on his own with his album The Lace (1986). Elon Musk and Bill Maher Warn Against the 'Woke Mind Virus,' a.k.a. Orr died Oct. 4, 2000, of pancreatic cancer at age 53. Born Benjamin Orzechowski in Cleveland in 1947, he first cut his teeth as a member of teenage ensemble the Grasshoppers, the house band for a regional American Bandstand-style TV program. Its now been revealed that Ocasek died from cardiovascular disease specifically hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, also called atherosclerosis, which is an accumulation of plaque in the arteries that can weaken the hearts muscle. Benjamin Orr, the singer and bassist for Cars, died at the age of 53. The group donated their royalties to the Band Aid Trust. It feels quite strange to be up here without him. He was only 53 years old. Benjamin Orr was born on September 8, 1947 and died on October 3, 2000. Vocalist. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Signing with Elektra/Asylum, their first album, The Cars, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, was released in May 1978. Meanwhile, The Cars bought Intermedia Studios in Boston, which they rechristened Syncro Sound. They also utilized the music video in a big way, producing entertaining and well-made clips for their many hit songs. So, the musicians sat around and devised a list of possible band names. Benjamin Orr died at the age of 53 on October 3, 2000. This reasonable facsimile of a classic rock group replaced the tough-if-not-impossible-to-replace Ocasek, Robinson, and Benjamin Orr with some notable, talented guys, including rock legend and producer Todd Rundgren and the Tubes drummer Prairie Prince. Friends and Bandmates Pay Tribute to Ben Orr Rolling Stone ", Still, not every Car was happy. The Cars disbanded in 1988. The first speaker, Chris Kamburoff, had played with Orr in Mixed Emotions, a band that preceded the Cars by several years, and he led the audience through the Our Father prayer after saying, Benjamin will live on.. Manager David The group performed its last gig on Sept. 27, in Alaska. "From the time he was diagnosed, he told us he wanted to keep playing until the end. Ben grew up in Lakewood and Orr, born Benjamin Orzechowski in Cleveland, formed The Cars in Boston in 1976 with fellow Ohio native Ric Ocasek. This gave him a Top 40 hit with Stay The Night. When did Benjamin Orr die? "Every artist I loved was on Elektra." If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Orr was born Benjamin Orzechowski in Cleveland, Ohio. I have extremely fond memories of it.. In 2018, the group entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When I was younger, I took it for granted. 3 hit "Drive.". And it was great." Paulina also posted a photo of flowers people left outside Ocaseks townhouse. Ocaseks full name was Richard Otcasek, and he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but he spent his formative teenage years in Cleveland, Ohio, and The Cars were founded in Boston. While so many major bands that fall apart never get closure, the Cars got the chance to reconnect and enjoy the accolades. When did Lawrence Orr die? variety show, "Upbeat"; the group also released two singles on the Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. His Russian and Czechoslovakian parents What is the birth name of Tony Orr? And yet, in the early 2010s, it happened. ``Theyve decided to go through with it and there will be some kind of tribute to him, Johnson said. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. And the Cars had a lot of hits, including "Just What I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Hello Again," "Drive," and "Tonight She Comes.". WebOrr died from pancreatic cancer. Aside from the string of hits he enjoyed as a member of The Cars during the 1980s, Benjamin Orr, who has died aged 53, earned himself a fragment of rock'n'roll immortality as the vocalist on the group's Drive, the poignant ballad used to devastating effect over news footage of starving Ethiopians during the 1985 Live Aid telecast. "The sh*t hit the fan," Ocasek later said to Rolling Stone. In 1972, they were part of the folk trio Milkwood, and released an album on Paramount featuring future Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes. Ocasek and Orr seemed to be on their way Milkwood signed with Paramount Records and released an album in 1972, but it sold poorly and the band fell apart. Benjamin Orrs birthstone is Sapphire. They include My Best Friends Girl, Good Times Roll, Lets Go, Bye Bye Love, Shake It Up and Drive.. In his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, he thanked his wheel-chaired grandmother for forcing him to sing at age 5 and for buying him the guitar from Sears and Roebuck, although he said she gave him the guitar when he was 14 years old. Ben grew up in Lakewood and Parma Heights, Ohio. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. But it all paid off. According to Sloane, Ric Ocasek "hated" the video because "he thought it made fun of the way he looked." She thanked everyone who assisted her and talked mostly about her love for Orr, whom she had met just over a year ago. Benjamin Orr The two struck up a friendship and three years later, when both had moved to Columbus, Ohio, they formed their first (of several) bands together, ID Nirvana. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Local punkistas gravitated to the city's Rat Club, where early performances by The Cars demonstrated that they were miles ahead of the competition in terms of professionalism and musicality. Just two months later, the band recorded a demo tape of its new songs, including early takes on what would become signature songs, "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed." Tributes to Benjamin Orr and cards to friends and family will be accepted by Crossover Entertainment Group, 2020 Howell Mill Road, Suite C, Atlanta, GA, 30318. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Soon he was in Boston starting bands, and the rest is music history. Benjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes." The group will now turn a planned March of Dimes benefit concert scheduled for this Friday at the Tabernacle in Atlanta into a memorial performance. Also, Ocasek was already married at the time, to his second wife. Web9. Cars front man Ric Ocasek died while recovering from surgery: Ben got drafted as well, but received a deferment after serving one and In 1987, Door To Door became The Cars' last, and least, album, with Ocasek now committed to a solo career and the others happy to follow suit. Hawkes soon left to play in comedian Martin Mull's stage act and the country-rock band Orphan, leaving Ocasek and Orr as a coffeehouse duo called, well, Ocasek and Orr. Recently, Orr had been playing with a new ensemble, Big People, featuring alumni from .38 Special, Damn Yankees, Ted Nugent, and Billy Joel. Benjamin Orzechowski (known as Ben Orr) played in numerous bands before finding fame in the late Seventies and Eighties with the Cars. From that day on, he was like a brother to me, she said, adding that Ben loved her mothers cheesecake and spaghetti. His marriage ended in divorce: he leaves a son. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. Their second album, Candy-O, was released in June 1979 and went platinum. In 1982, Orr began working on his own album, though it wouldn't emerge for four years. In his later stage of life, Orr was performing for his own band along with two other bands, named 'Voices Of Classic Rock' and 'Big People'.He was very well practiced and proficient with guitar, keyboards, drums, and other musical instruments. By the time 1977 was over, the Cars had signed a record deal and hit the road to build both hype and a fanbase. It was Robinson who mentioned the Cars, the entry that everybody seemed to like. A post shared by Paulina Porizkova (@paulinaporizkov) on Sep 16, 2019 at 12:18pm PDT. Lollipop lover. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. "The name was meaningless and conjured up nothing, which was perfect." The musicians' old friend, Maxanne Sartori, enthusiastically played those two tracks on her afternoon radio show on Boston's WBCN, prompting a huge (and positive) listener response. Ben was what I call a feel-good person. "I needed an attractive, exotic woman who has something fierce about her," Hutton said in I Want My MTV. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. According to Orr's manager, another event is being planned to take place in Orr's hometown of Cleveland. At the band's kickoff show at the House of Blues, the New Cars played a medley of old Cars tunes and its first single, "Not Tonight." Grasshoppers", as both the lead singer and guitarist. An early demo of Just What I Needed had already been a favourite on Boston radio station WBCN, and now became the group's debut Top 30 hit. Benjamin Orr Jr Historical Fact It was there in the late 60s that he met Ric Ocasek, a musician and college dropout. At the same time, the Cars were racking up platinum-plus sales. Robinson just really did not want to shake it up with "Shake It Up," but relented when the band decided to give it fresh ears and a total overhaul. Thanks in advance to anybody who knows. Ocasek moved to Boston and Orr returned to Ohio. "Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. It revealed that Ocasek was recovering from a recent surgery and that Paulina realized he had passed away when she touched his cheek. As previously reported by MTV News, Orr, born Benjamin Orzechowski on September 8, 1947, had been hospitalized last May with what turned out to be inoperable pancreatic cancer (see [article id="1426984"]"The Cars' Benjamin Orr Hospitalized"[/article]). mellow musician, Melodic Voice Singing with Feeling and Urgency. I dyed my hair blond in the front, went to Ocean City, and lived that whole thing. Benjamin Orr: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails Tony Orr's birth name is Anthony Benjamin Orr. In February 1978, the group recorded its self-titled debut album in a mere 12 days. Orr was performing rigorously throughout the summer of the same year in different state fairs and music festivals. Benjamin's song 'Just What I Needed' was the first hit song ranked in the Top 40 list. Orr co-founded the Cars with Ric Ocasek in Boston in 1976 and sang lead on many of the band's most recognizable songs, including "Drive" and "Just What I Needed." According to his official website, Benjamin Orr died on October 3, 2000 from pancreatic cancer. Fresh off his Academy Award-winning role in Ordinary People, actor Timothy Hutton wanted to get into directing, and in 1984 the Cars' manager played him the group's album Heartbeat City. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History "Lawyers got involved. Lawrence Orr died in 1990. Benjamin Orr (Orzechowski), musician, born August 9 1947; died October 3 2000, Rock musician who found fame with The Cars, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. In the late '90s, Orr began performing with Big People, which included former .38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi. Benjamin Orr, singer and bassist with new wave hitmakers the Cars, succumbed to cancer at his home in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Ric Ocasek, Cars Singer He was born and brought up with the culture of music in his family, and everybody supported him in his music career. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Cap'n Swing recorded some demos and played the Newport Street Music Fair, a showcase sponsored by popular local station WBCN, and caught the attention of afternoon disc jockey Maxanne Sartori who had previously helped launch the career of Aerosmith who helped solidify the group's lineup. "Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. It was believed that a venomous snake would die if placed in a vessel Benjamin Orr had his own solo album, which was released in 1986, and the name was 'The Lace'. The Cars were a band, but to the public, the Cars and Ric Ocasek were one and the same, probably because of his striking look or because he sang most of the bands' songs. So while the Cars didn't reform at that time, a version of the band did. He hired model Paulina Porizkova, among the last women he met with, and set her and Ocasek up in a hotel room to rehearse the plot of the video, asking the two "to imagine they'd had a fight that was escalating." He has been ranked on the list of elite groups of celebrities in the USA. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Actor: The Cars: Drive. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Now that Im older and have interacted with a lot of people, I can see what a rare thing that is. Rock Musician Benjamin Orr Dies | AP News She also suggested to Ocasek that he hire a new drummer: David Robinson, formerly of the cult favorite Modern Lovers, because he "had more of a pop feel.". Benjamin Orr was 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall. Bassist and singer Ben Orr was born Benjamin Orzechowski on September He also collaborated with 'The Cars' for their album, 'Door to Door'. Grasshoppers" were the house band on the local Cleveland TV music Though the net worth of Benjamin Orr was around $1 million, his annual income is still unknown.
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