Benny J. & Friends We're a 3-5 piece band who covers FUNK, R&B, SMOOTH JAZZ, MOTOWN, and ORIGINALS

Based in United States

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Main band photo

LOCATION
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States

TRAVEL
up to 12500 miles

PRICE
from $2000 (USD)

RATED
10 / 10 from 6 reviews

Watch / Listen

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Price Guide

Available to book from $2000 (USD). For an accurate quote please make an enquiry.

About / Biography

Saxophonist and Vocalist Bennie J. Smith is a Danville-Lexington, KY native and currently based in THE DERBY CITY of Louisville, KY. He and his Bandmates will provide you and your patrons the best quality, professional "live" entertainment and cultural arts experience for your next event, including but not limited to the following:

CONCERTS, CLUBS, GALAS, PUBLIC and PRIVATE CORPORATE AFFAIRS, WEDDINGS, WEDDING RECEPTIONS, PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS, COLLEGE SPORTING & CULTURAL ARTS EVENTS, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT EVENTS and FUNDRAISERS, etc.

BENNIE J. had the BLESSED opportunities to share the billing with national recording artists such as: GLENN JONES * MIDNIGHT STAR * S.O.S. BAND * DAZZ BAND * ROGER TROUTMAN & ZAPP with SHIRLEY MURDOCK * SLAVE * BAR-KAYS * READY FOR THE WORLD * CHOCOLATE MILK BAND * INSTANT FUNK BAND * THE DEELE * BOBBI HUMPHREY * CHANGING FACES * ALEXANDER O'NEAL * BRIAN O'NEAL * MORRIS DAY & THE TIME * NORMAN CONNORS * ROY AYERS * NAJEE * KENANYAH ISRAEL fka BAMM DAVIS * MIKE PHILLIPS * CINDY BRADLEY * MARION MEADOWS * THE URBAN JAZZ COALITION

UPCOMING PERFORMANCE DATES FOR 2025:

DADDY VIC'S SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT ON SUNDAYS FROM 1P - 4P 4444 CANE RUN ROAD LOUISVILLE, KY 40216

SAT JAN 25, 2025 - SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY in LEXINGTON, KY * 5P - 8P INVITATION ONLY PRIVATE EVENT

SAT FEB 1, 2025 - DE DE COX BOOK SIGNING of "STOLEN ROSES'" at KAY JEWELERS PROMOTIONAL EVENT 7900 SHELBYVILLE ROAD OXMOOR MALL D-12 LOUISVILLE, KY * 11A - 4P ***FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***

THUR FEB 13, 2025 - WINTER JAZZ & SOUL SERIES "PRE-VALENTINE'S CONCERT"with BENNIE J. & FRIENDS at THE HISTORIC LYRIC THEATRE 300 E. THIRD STREET LEXINGTON, KY 40508 * 6P - 8:30P ***FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***

FRI FEB 14, 2025 - RED VELVET AFFAIR VALENTINE'S EVENT featuring SAMMIE, BENNIE J. KOR'EE JACKSON & OTHERS at MELLWOOD ARTS CENTER THE DA VINCI ROOM 1860 MELLWOOD AVENUE LOUISVILLE, KY * TICKETS AVAILABLE ON EVENTBRITE

SAT FEB 15, 2025 - "A VALENTINE'S WEEKEND with BENNIE J." at LIT CIGAR BAR - LOUNGE 330 VINCENNES STREET NEW ALBANY, IN 47150 * 7P - 10P * $5.00 COVER

SAT FEB 22, 2025 - BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS EXCELLENCE AWARDS * 6P - 10P * DETAILS TBA

FRI FEB 28, 2025 * ALPHA UPSILON CHAPTER 90TH CHARTER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION RECEPTION at ROOTS 101 AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM 124 N. 1st STREET LOUISVILLE, KY* 7P

SAT MAR 1, 2035 - ALPHA UPSILON CHAPTER 90TH CHARTER ANNIVERSARY GALA & CONCERT featuring DARYL BEBEE at MELLWOOD ARTS CENTER 1860 MELLWOOD AVENUE LOUISVILLE, KY * 7P * TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

SAT MAR 1, 2025 - 5TH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS DINNER & COMEDY SHOW by LAFFLYFE ENTERTAINMENT WITH BENNIE J. and DJ DIMPLES in CINCINNATI, OH * DOORS OPEN AT 6 P - SHOWTIME 7P * TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

SAT MAR 8, 2025 - "70'S STYLE GALA" HOSTED by COMMUNITY HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH at MARRIOTT EAST LOUISVILLE BALLROOM EMBASSY SQUARE n LOUISVILLE, KY * 5P - 8P * TICKETS GO ON SALE SOOON

FRI MAR 14, 2025 - THE LOUISVILLE THOROUGHBRED SOCIETY 209 E. MAIN STREET LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 * 6:30P - 9:30P PRIVATE EVENT FOR MEMBERS ONLY

FRI MAR 21, 2025 - SPECIAL EVENT at ROOTS 101 AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM * DETAILS TBA

SAT MAR 22, 2025 - LAUNCH PARTY for FOUNDATION with ALMA ROBERTA ELLIOTT AWARENESS for DEMENTIA FOUNDATION at MELLWOOD ARTS CENTER THE PIGMENT GALLERY * 3P - 6P * DETAILS TBA

SAT MAR 29, 2025 - OUR COMMONWEALTH IAMHER WOMEN'S CONFERENCE AND KECIA COPELAND BIRTHDAY PARTY* DETAILS TBA

SAT APR 12, 2025 - LESLIE PRYOR PRODUCTIONS EVENT * DETAILS TBA

SAT APR 19, 2025 - WEDDING and COCKTAIL 🍸 HOUR EVENT (PENDING CONFIRMATION)

THUR MAY 2, 2025 - BLACK HORSEMEN CELEBRATION at KENTUCKY HORSE PARK in LEXINGTON, KY * DETAILS TBA

FRI MAY 2, 2025 - PRE-DERBY GALA FOR BECKLEY FOUNDATION SHELBYVILLE, KY * DETAILS TBA

SAT MAY 3, 2025 * DERBY DAY BIRTHDAY SHENANIGANS WITH SON BRIAN

SUN MAY 4, 2025 - YEARLINGS CLUB DERBY SUNDAY JAZZ AFFAIR at THE YEARLINGS CLUB in LOUISVILLE, KY *4P - 7P * PENDING DETAILS TBA

MON MAY 5, 2025 - WEDDING & RECEPTION IN LEXINGTON, KY * DETAILS TBA

SAT JUNE 7, 2025 - WEDDING & RECEPTION for ASHLEY and MANNY in JUNCTION CITY, KY * DETAILS TBA

SUN JUNE 29, 2025 - MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ALL ALUMNI REUNION "JAZZ IN THE PARK" PICNIC* DETROIT, MI * 5P - 8P DETAILS TBA (PENDING CONFIRMATION)

SAT AUG 16, 2025 - LADYJO ENTERTAINMENT CONCERT * DETAILS TBA

THUR AUG 21 - BUTTERMILK DAYS FESTIVAL WINE TASTING EVENT in BARDSTOWN, KY * DETAILS TBA

SAT SEPT 6, 2025 - WEDDING and COCKTAIL 🍸 HOUR for MARYBETH and NICK in LOUISVILLE, KY 5P - 8P * DETAILS TBA

SAT OCT 11, 2025 - WEDDING RECEPTION for THE SON of MISS NORA QUINN * 6P - 8P CINCINNATI, OH

(OTHER PERFORMANCE DATES PENDING CONFIRMATION)

"Driving the big rig is my therapy...
Performing music is my medicine!!!"
-Saxophinist & Vocalist BENNIE J. SMITH

STILL GOING STRONG IN 2025!!!

"BRINGING LOVE PEACE AND JOYOUS VIBES TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!!!" - BENNY J.

Reviews (6)

There are currently 6 user ratings for Benny J. & Friends

AVERAGE RATING

10 / 101

Location

Based in United States

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Travels worldwide

Our repertoire covers:

SMOOTH JAZZ

R&B

FUNK

TOP 40

BLUES

MOTOWN

ORIGINALS

GOSPEL & INSPIRATIONAL

Technical Info

What are your basic technical requirements?

TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best gig you've ever done and the best venue you've ever worked at?

OPENING ACT for the FOLLOWING ARTISTS:
MIDNIGHT STAR & S.O.S. BAND 1983 - LEXINGTON, KY
ZAPP featuring ROGER TROUTMAN 1985 - LEXINGTON, KY
ALEXANDER O'NEAL and THE DAZZ BAND KSU HOMECOMING 1985 - FRANKFORT, KY
MORRIS DAY & THE TIME 2022 - LOUISVILLE, KY
GLENN JONES 2024 - LEXINGTON, KY


What's your favourite type of event?

FUNDRAISERS for GREAT CAUSES
CONCERTS OPENING for NATIONAL RECORDING ARTISTS
DERBY TIME EVENTS
WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS


What's your previous experience and how did you start gigging?

STARTED OUT PRACTICING and PLAYING with NEIGHBORHOOD MUSICIANS. AS TIME WENT ON, I JOINED DIFFERENT BANDS AND ULTIMATELY GOT TIRED OF THE "BAND BREAKUP SYNDROME" and STARTED HIRING MUSICIANS and VOCALISTS BACK in 1988


Which artists have you been most influenced by, who is your favourite artist and what is the greatest song of all time?

*MIDNIGHT STAR
*GROVER WASHINGTON, JR
*ROGER TROUTMAN & ZAPP
*NAJEE
*EARTH WIND & FIRE
*LUTHER VANDROSS
*PATTI LABELLE
*TEENA MARIE
*BEYONCE'

GREATEST SONGS:
"WE ARE THE WORLD"
and
"HEAD TO THE SKY"

Performance Info

What are your typical setup and performance times?

Setup usually takes anywhere from 1-3 hours


Are you happy to perform outside?

YES


Do the clients have a say in what you play or is it a set repertoire list only?

USUALLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO REQUESTS. BIT WE DO CATER TO WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC THE CLIENT REQUESTS FOR THEIR EVENT(S)


How do previous clients most commonly describe your performances?

VERY ENTERTAINING and ENGAGING with HIGH ENERGY while MEETING THE MOOD of the MOMENTS

Recent Clients

Benny J. & Friends has performed for these clients:

*LADYJO ENTERTAINMENT

*GERALD BELLE PROMOTIONS

*G2 COFFEE LOUNGE & BISTRO

*LA & FRIENDS PRODUCTIONS

*CRYSTAL BLOSSOM AFFAIR COMMITTEE

*A&B ENTERPRISES

*CHERYL J. PROMOTIONS

*MAC AVENUE EVENT CENTER

*MADISON COUNTY YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

*MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

*THE RED MILE GAMING & RACING

*LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE GUILD

*HOUSTON EVENTS MAGAZINE

*SOPHISTICATED LADY PRODUCTIONS

*COFFEE TALK JAZZ NETWORK MEDIA of LOS ANGELES

*BLACK JOCKEYS LOUNGE

*ROYALTIES EVENT CENTER

*KENTUCKY U.S. FREEDMEN COALITION

*ISAAC MURPHY MEMORIAL ARTS GARDEN

*CASTLEWOOD PARK

*DOUGLASS PARK

*BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

*DR. PAMELA PERRY-HILL

*BRO. NATHAN BANKS

*THE DENISON LOUISVILLE

*FROZEN SMOKE RESTAURANT ENTERTAINMENT

*ALMA ROBERTA ELLIOTT AWARENESS for DEMENTIA FOUNDATION

*ERICA DENISE ENTERTAINMENT

*PRESTIGIOUS ENTERTAINMENT

*HISTORIC LYRIC THEATRE & CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

*JOE'S PALM ROOM

*L.I.T. CIGAR BAR & LOUNGE

*BACK DECK BAR & LOUNGE

*KENTUCKY CENTER for AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE

*ROOTS 101 AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

*SHELBYVILLE CONFERENCE & WELCOME CENTER

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