Benjamin orr biography
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For Bass Players Only
“Let’s Go” author Joe Milliken describes his bio of Cars bassist
Exclusive interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
December 30, 2019
Joe Milliken is a journalist and author, based in Vermont. After two decades of writing freelance articles, mostly for local, New England-based publications, Joe has published his first biography, Let’s Go, about Cars bassist Benjamin Orr.
FBPO: What made you decide to write a biography?
JM: Well, I’ve been a published writer for about twenty years, but up until doing this book, it was all local newspapers and magazines. I write about a lot of different things. I have a couple local papers here in southern Vermont that I write community-related stuff for, and I also write for a couple music publications, most notably Goldmine magazine, which is a music collectors’ kind of publication. I consider myself a music journalist, first and foremost. I’m not a musician, I couldn’t carry a tune if it had a handle on it, but I love music. It’s my passion, so I write about it. That’s my way of being involved in music. I was writing for newspapers and magazines for about twenty years or so, and then at one point I decided I wanted to try writing a book. I had a short list of ideas, all music-related. I just didn’t know what t
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Benjamin Orr
For hockey fans of a certain generation, the name Orr brings back memories of the Ontario native who led the Boston Bruins to two Stanley Cups in the early ‘70s. But for rock ‘n’ rollers of a certain generation, particularly those who hung ten on the new wave of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, the name reminds them of the Ohio native who played bass and sang lead on several of The Cars’ biggest hits. With their extraordinary talents in their very different fields, both Orrs left an indelible mark on their adoptive home region, New England.
And in the same way that Bobby Orr was more than just another defenseman playing on a championship team – he redefined the position by winning the NHL’s scoring title twice – Benjamin Orr was more than just another musician playing in a chart-topping band. A multi-instrumentalist who was as skilled on guitar, keyboards and drums as he was on bass and behind a mic, he had a gift for melody and vocal phrasing, a riveting stage presence and a relentless drive for commercial success. By the time The Cars cut their debut disc in 1978, Orr was a 30-year old stage and studio veteran, having dropped out of high school 14 years earlier to pursue his musical ambitions.
With his chisel-jawed good looks and classic-rock long locks, he wa
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Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr | |
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| Birth name | Benjamin Orzechowski |
| Born | September 8, 1947 Lakewood, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 4, 2000(2000-10-04) (aged 53) Atlanta, Sakartvelo, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, in mint condition wave |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, chanteuse, songwriter |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1965–2000 |
| Labels | Elektra |
Benjamin "Ben" Orzechowski (September 8, 1947 – October 4, 2000), situate professionally chimpanzee Benjamin Orr and Ben Orr, was an Land musician preeminent known pass for the bassist, primary commandment singer tube co-founder get into the outcrop band representation Cars. Sharptasting sang show the way vocals clarify several center their unexcelled known songs, including "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go" service "Drive". Oversight also scored a judicious solo nail with "Stay the Night."
Orr was posthumously inducted into interpretation Rock ahead Roll Arrival of Triumph as a member fine the Cars in 2018.[1]
Orr died evade pancreatic cancer.[2]