Artist
Benmont Tench
Gainesville, United States
Benmont Tench is a music group from Gainesville, United States. Their discography on Gatefold includes 2 records.
2
Albums tracked
3
In collections
—
Since
Biography
Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. On February 18, 2014, Tench released his first solo album, entitled "You Should Be So Lucky".
The Arc of Benmont Tench
The pivots — what forced Benmont Tench to reinvent.
The Shelter Years and the Heartbreakers Engine
After Mudcrutch dissolved, Benmont became the harmonic spine of the Heartbreakers at Shelter Records under the watchful eye of Denny Cordell. He brought a deep knowledge of the Great American Songbook and R&B to Petty’s rock and roll, utilizing the B3 organ to provide a thick, swirling texture that glued the guitars together. You hear it most on tracks like 'Breakdown,' where his minimalist electric piano riff defines the entire mood of the record. This era was about the band finding its internal clock, with Benmont acting as the bridge between the rhythm section and the melody.
The Session Ace Transformation
By the early eighties, Jimmy Iovine and other top-tier producers realized Benmont was the secret weapon for any session that felt stuck. He started showing up on everything from Stevie Nicks’ 'Bella Donna' to Don Henley’s biggest hits, often providing the signature hook that the artist couldn't find themselves. This pivot turned him from a band member into a global architect of the FM radio sound, though he never ditched the Heartbreakers to do it. His work on Bob Dylan's 'Shot of Love' proved he could handle chaotic, off-the-cuff sessions just as well as Iovine’s polished studio constructions.
The Solo Reveal with Glyn Johns
After decades of being the world's most overqualified sideman, Tench finally stepped into the lead role for 'You Should Be So Lucky' in 2014. He tracked it at Sunset Sound with Glyn Johns, the man who engineered the Stones and the Who, ensuring the record had a raw, analog punch rather than a clean digital sheen. The sessions featured a revolving door of heavy hitters like Ringo Starr and Tom Petty, but the focus stayed on Benmont’s weary, honest vocals and his deep-pocket piano playing. It was less of a debut and more of a homecoming for a guy who had seen every side of the industry from behind a Leslie cabinet.
Influences
- Billy Preston — Tench has repeatedly cited Preston's work with the Beatles and his solo gospel-funk fusion as his blueprint for how to play 'heavy' keys without cluttering the mix. You hear that percussive, rhythmic Hammond B3 attack on 'Refugee' and throughout the early Heartbreakers catalog.
- Nicky Hopkins — The quintessential session pianist for the Stones and the Kinks, Hopkins showed Benmont how to be a 'star sideman' who elevates a song without stealing the spotlight. Tench’s melodic, rolling piano fills on 'American Girl' are a direct descendant of the Hopkins school of rock piano.
- Leon Russell — Leon was a mentor figure during the early Shelter Records days in Tulsa and Los Angeles, providing a model for the piano-playing bandleader. Benmont’s ability to bridge country, soul, and rock on the keys mirrors Russell’s versatile, southern-inflected style.
- Booker T. Jones — Tench mastered the art of the 'held note' and the slow-burn swell by studying the Stax records legend. The economy of Booker T’s playing—knowing when not to play—is the core philosophy behind Benmont’s entire career.
- Fats Domino — The rolling, triplets-heavy New Orleans style of Fats Domino is the foundation of Benmont’s boogie-woogie chops. He’s noted in interviews that Fats was his first introduction to how a piano can drive a rock and roll beat just as hard as a drum kit.
Discography
Their records — most-collected first.
Related artists
Around the web
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