Available to book from $2000 (USD). For an accurate quote please make an enquiry.
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.
Our repertoire covers:
SMOOTH JAZZ
R&B
FUNK
TOP 40
BLUES
MOTOWN
ORIGINALS
GOSPEL & INSPIRATIONAL
TBD
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
FUNDRAISERS for GREAT CAUSES
CONCERTS OPENING for NATIONAL RECORDING ARTISTS
DERBY TIME EVENTS
WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS
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
*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"
Setup usually takes anywhere from 1-3 hours
YES
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)
VERY ENTERTAINING and ENGAGING with HIGH ENERGY while MEETING THE MOOD of the MOMENTS
*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
Gig Heaven has members, our newest member is (updated )
