Benmont Tench

Benjamin Montmorency (Benmont) Tench, III (born September 7, 1953) an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Early years

Benmont Tench was born in Gainesville, Florida, the second child of Benjamin Montmorency Tench, Jr. and Mary Catherine McInnis Tench.^[1] His father was born and raised in Gainesville, and served as a circuit court judge. ^[2]

Benmont Tench played piano from an early age and his first recital was at age six. After discovering the music of The Beatles, he ended his classical piano lessons and focused on rock and roll. He met Tom Petty for the first time at a Gainesville music store when he was 11. Petty and Tench played together as members of the Sundowners in 1964.^[3] The Tenches' garage was a frequent practice site for the band on evenings when Benmont's father was out for the evening. Benmont's mother enjoyed having the boys there, but she would check with the neighbors to make certain the music wouldn't disturb them.^[4]

Education

Benmont went north to New Hampshire for boarding school at Phillips Exeter Academy, then attended Tulane University in New Orleans. While on a college break, Tench went to a concert by Mudcrutch, Petty's band, with an opening act from nearby Jacksonville, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Afterwards, he sat in with the band on several different sessions, then went back to school. Soon after, Petty called Tench and asked him to quit school and join Mudcrutch full-time, which after long deliberation, Benmont agreed to; but before he would leave school, Petty had to convince Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Tench that his son had a promising music career.^[5]

Professional musician

Mudcrutch eventually evolved into Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.^[6]

Other bands he played in include: The Apathetics, the MiffMole Band, and Tuna Fish and Larry.

In addition to playing piano and Hammond organ with the Heartbreakers, Tench is also known as a skilled session musician, having recorded with dozens of notable artists, including Johnny Cash, U2, Elisa, Stevie Nicks, Lucinda Williams, Sam Phillips, You Am I, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, The Rolling Stones, Don Henley, John Prine, Ringo Starr, John Fogerty, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Waylon Jennings, Paul Westerberg, X, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carlene Carter, The dB's, Alanis Morissette, The Ramones, The Screaming Trees, The Tragically Hip, The Divinyls, The Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, The Cult, The Jayhawks, Fiona Apple, Lone Justice, Sean Watkins, New Found Glory, Tift Merritt, Peter Case, Neil Diamond and Powderfinger, as well as many others.

Songs written by Tench and recorded by other artists include "You Little Thief", a top 5 UK and Australian hit for Feargal Sharkey in 1985, and "Never Be You" (co-written with Petty), which became a #1 US Country hit for Rosanne Cash, also in 1985. Tench has received two ASCAP songwriting awards: in 1995 for "Stay Forever" (performed by Hal Ketchum) and in 2001 for "Unbreakable Heart" (performed by Jessica Andrews). This was also recorded by Carlene Carter in the late 1990's. He also wrote songs for Kimmie Rhodes (Play Me A Memory) and Lone Justice (Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling).

Current activity

In January 2008, Tench became part of a supergroup, initially named The Scrolls now officially known as Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). The band is composed of Tench, Sean Watkins (guitar), Sara Watkins (fiddle), Glen Phillips (guitar, vocals), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Greg Leisz (various), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The group is working on an album.^[7]

As of March 2009, Tench is frequently appearing with the Watkins Family Hour at Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles. He also appears at the Largo as a special guest with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

Personal life

In March 1991, Tench married Canadian Courtney Taylor. They divorced in 1997.

References