Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals

Ben Harper is an artist from the Inland Empire in California, an oddly named place for an interesting person. Recording since 1992 (Pleasure & Pain with Tom Freund), Ben Harper released several albums throughout the mid 90s and early 2000 with his backing band, the Innocent Criminals, comprised of Juan Nelson on bass, Leon Mobley on percussion, Oliver Charles on drums(although Dean Butterworth was on the drums for multiple albums from 1999 until the release of Diamonds on the Inside) , backup/lead guitarists (featuring Marc Ford and Michael Ward), and various keyboard players including Jason Yates. His latest efforts have been solo credited but the Innocent Criminals remain his backing band, led by Nelson's ever affable presence. Harper's music spans multiple genres, covering everything from Jimi Hendrix to Bob Marley to Bruce Springsteen to The Beatles to The Funk Brothers. Harper also recently collaborated on a grammy-winning album with the Blind Boys of Alabama.