Ben Harper

Combining shuddering, groove-laden funky soul and folky handcrafted acoustics, singer/songwriter Ben Harper enjoyed cult status during the course of the '90s before gaining wider attention toward the decade's end. As a young artist, Harper combined elements of classic singer/songwriters, blues revivalists, Jimi Hendrix, and such '90s jam bands as Blues Traveler and Phish, which meant that he was embraced by critics and college kids alike. Despite the commercial success of the radio single {"Steal My Kisses"} in 2000, Harper continued to explore different musical textures into the 21st century, enjoying a solid fanbase at home and a considerable amount of fame in Europe, where was named 2003's "Artist of the Year" by the French branch of Rolling Stone.