Benjamin Orr (born Benjamin Orzechowski, September 8, 1947 – October 3, 2000) was an American musician best known as the bassist, co-lead vocalist, and co-founder of the new wave band The Cars. He sang lead vocals on several of their best-known songs, including "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go", ''Moving in Stereo'', and "Drive". He also had a moderate solo hit with "Stay the Night".
Benjamin Orzechowski was born in Lakewood, Ohio[2] to immigrant parents. His mother, Elizabeth (Née Benn), was Carpatho-Rusyn, born in present day Kojšov, Slovakia, and his father, Charles Orzechowski, was born in present day Ukraine.[3] Both were devout Byzantine Rite Catholics[4] and Ben's mother would not allow him to drive his first car until the local clergy had blessed it.[3]
His family actively supported his musical endeavors. He became proficient in several instruments including the guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums.[5]
Known locally as "Benny 11 Letters", he grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, and Parma, Ohio and attended Valley Forge High School before joining local band the Grasshoppers as lead singer and guitarist in 1964.[6] In 1965, the Grasshoppers released two singles on the Sunburst label: "Mod Socks" and "Pink Champagne (and Red Roses)", the latter written by Orzechowski.
The Grasshoppers were also the house band on the Big 5 Show,[5] a musical variety television show produced by WEWS-TV in Cleveland. The Grasshoppers dissolved in 1966, when two of the band members were drafted into the U.S. Army, after which Orzechowski joined the band Mixed Emotions, and later the Colours.
Later, Orzechowski was drafted as well, although he received a deferment after approximately a year and a half in the Army.[7][8]
Orr first met Ric Ocasek in Cleveland in the 1960s after Ocasek saw Orr performing with the Grasshoppers on the Big 5 Show.[9] A few years later, Orr moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he and Ocasek formed a musical partnership that would continue in various incarnations until the break up of The Cars in 1988. After moving to Boston, the two formed a folk band called Milkwood with guitarist James Goodkind.
In 1972, the group released one album, How's the Weather? which failed to chart.[10] Remaining in Boston, Ocasek and Orr then formed another band, Richard and the Rabbits, featuring keyboardist Greg Hawkes, followed by another band, Cap'n Swing, which included guitarist Elliot Easton. After the group broke up in 1976, the four of them and drummer David Robinson formed The Cars.
As a member of The Cars, Orr sang lead vocal on some of the band's best-known songs, including their first hit in the Top 40, "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go," and "Drive", their highest charting single in the United States.
Orr released his only solo album, The Lace, in 1986. He co-wrote the music and lyrics with his longtime girlfriend, Diane Grey Page, who also sang backing vocals[11] and appeared on the album's back cover. The album featured a Top 40 pop hit, "Stay the Night". The song was also a Top 10 album rock hit.[12] An accompanying music video for the song was in heavy rotation on MTV.[13]
A second single, "Too Hot to Stop", was also released, but did not chart in the Billboard Hot 100, though it reached No. 25 on the album rock chart. Orr continued to work with The Cars for one more album, Door to Door, and tour before the group disbanded in 1988, after which he and the other members pursued solo work. Sometime in the mid 1990s, Orr recorded tracks with guitarist John Kalishes for an unreleased follow up to The Lace.
In April 2000, Orr was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and hospitalized.[17] However, he continued to perform with the band Big People throughout that summer at music festivals and state fairs. He reunited with The Cars one last time in Atlanta, for an interview that was included in the Rhino Records concert video The Cars Live.
Orr died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Atlanta on October 3, 2000, at the age of 53.[18][19] He had made his final public appearance less than six weeks earlier on August 25, performing with Big People in Anchorage, Alaska; bandmates Jeff Carlisi, Derek St. Holmes and Rob Wilson were at Orr's bedside when he died.[20]
Ric Ocasek wrote and recorded the song "Silver" as a musical tribute to Orr.[21] It appeared on Ocasek's 2005 solo album, Nexterday.[22] The Cars reunited ten years after Orr's death and released their seventh studio album, Move Like This, in May 2011.[23] Orr was given special thanks in the liner notes: "Ben, your spirit was with us on this one."[24]
.jpg)
