Benny Hester

Still in his teens, Benny Hester's first pop/rock self titled album, "Benny" was readied for release in 1972. Although the warehouse storing it mysteriously burned down and the album was never released to the general market or radio, he gained valuable experience working with industry veterans like Ron Tutt, James Burton, Joe Osborn, Larry Mahoberac, and producer Brent Maher. He also learned from...

Still in his teens, Benny Hester's first pop/rock self titled album, "Benny" was readied for release in 1972. Although the warehouse storing it mysteriously burned down and the album was never released to the general market or radio, he gained valuable experience working with industry veterans like Ron Tutt, James Burton, Joe Osborn, Larry Mahoberac, and producer Brent Maher. He also learned from sitting behind the console and watching sound engineer and VMI Record president Bill Porter mix the live concerts each night for Elvis Presely. And thanks to Bill, that's where Benny's band for his first album came from. Some of those recordings made it to the "black market" and discount bins all over the country. In 1978 Benny recorded "Benny Hester", his debut album on Sparrow Records. This proved to be a ground breaking recording on the CCM music scene. For the first time ever traditional CCM radio stations began to take the rock sound seriously. The single, "Jesus Came Into My Life", was quickly embraced by CCM radio. Benny's next album, "Nobody Knows Me Like You", produced by Michael Omartian, is considered a classic. The title song became one of the biggest selling of all time. In 1981, the single "Nobody Knows Me Like You" went on to become the first contemporary Christian recording ever to cross over to the pop charts and become a top forty hit. In 1985 Benny recorded "Benny From Here". It was this album that produced one of the top ten singles in the history of Christian music, "When God Ran". This song made an immediate impact on radio and quickly became a number one hit. "When God Ran" went on to become the longest running number one song of all time. Simultaneously, Benny's "Secret Thoughts" was number one on the Christian rock charts, making Benny the only CCM artist to sweep the AC, CHR, and Rock music charts with number one hits at the same time. Benny has performed over 2,000 live concerts, recorded four top ten albums, and had ten number one singles. In 1992 Benny, as Executive Producer and President of his own music and television production company - Rebel Entertainment, along with his two partners produced the MTV Networks/Nickelodeon hit show Roundhouse. The show ran for four years earning Benny nine Cable Ace Award nominations from 1993 to 1996 - three as Executive Producer for best "Variety Special or Series" and six for best "Original Song". Benny won the Cable Ace Award for best "Original Song" with "I Can Dream" in 1993.