Ben Trussell

photo courtesy of Steven Brown

As I write this, there is a line of thunderstorms moving through the city that promises to not resolve the drought we've been suffering, but does promise to bring with it a number of tornado warnings. This city is full of people who spend their days trying to control the environment via the space program, the military, or the vast amount of engineering companies that call Huntsville home, but nature will always rule.

That said, I could spend years practicing my guitar and never be as good as someone who was clearly born a natural. Ben Trussell is one of those naturals. I was able to see him for the first time during the holidays, when a coworker and I made a last minute decision to see him play at a local bar. He had a definite onstage presence and his originals were amazing, which is ALWAYS worth noting. You can lose the audience within seconds when you introduce an original, but honestly, the bar seemed to pick up during these times. That is rare.

Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Ben had early signs of talent, and was lucky enough to grow up in a musical environment performing in church with his father and then local band Southern Brothers. By age 16 Ben formed his own band with childhood friends, traveling and playing in local and regional venues including "The Door" in Dallas, Texas.

The next few years, Ben performed as a solo acoustic act, polishing his skills as a lead man, and began to work with Hunstville notables such as Dan Hardin (Bo Bice and Sugarmoney), and David Anderson (Brother Cane), and Mike Roberts (Gary Nichols Band, 5'Oclock Charlie). Ben has also had the opportunity to share the stage with seasoned pros such as Larue Larry (The Chi-lites / The Staple Singers / The Sneakers), Kenneth Ortega (Coco Taylor / Johnny Taylor / The Commodores), and Ron Jeffreys (Merle Haggard / John Anderson / Johnny Cash).

In support of the new recording project, Ben has now teamed with the members of Leaving Madison to form the Ben Trussell Band playing a mix of modern rock, classic rock, funky party tunes, and really pushing his original music. *

Ben was gracious enough to answer some questions this blogger had for him. Watch out for this one. I think it won't be long before Huntsville is forced to let him go. -K

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K: I'd like to get your take on the Huntsville music scene, i.e., it seems to me that you have to do covers to get booked at all, which has to be frustrating.
B: A lot of times in Huntsville that is the case. There are a few venues that support all original bands, such as Crossroads and The Flying Monkey. It is very frustrating, but sometimes it can be a lot of fun playing covers. We like to slip in originals once we have the crowd into it and they usually respond well. Anytime you get frustrated you have to take a step back and remember that you have the best job ever and if you can't do that maybe it's time to take a short break.

K: How do you envision your future?
B: I envision my future with music. If I didn't have music I don't really know what I'd do. I don't like to think in that dark of a place. It's the way I get through tough times in life. Anytime something bad happens i.e. you end a relationship with someone that you are still very much in love with, or you loose someone that you were close to and you're not quite sure how "everything happens for a reason" I take that pain and interpret it into lyrics and chords the best I can and hopefully other people can find some healing from that. I hope to be successful just as anyone does, but all that really means to me is to make a comfortable living and accomplish the goals YOU have set and do it all with something that makes you happy and nothing makes me more happy than music.

K: Do you have a record deal yet?
B: Yes, I signed with Devaney Records in May of 2007 and we are currently recording "60 Minutes of Fame"

K: Are you touring?
B: No, but some tour dates will be released shortly.

K: Did you have formal musical training, or are you self-taught?
B: I took a few guitar lessons here and there. The rest of it came from just playing with and taking advice from some really good friends and mentors i.e. Dan Hardin, Scott Johnson, Dave Anderson, Michael Cline, Cam DeVaney… the list goes on forever.

K: And when are you getting the hell out of Huntsville?
B: Hopefully soon although even when I'm out touring I'll still come back and play some of the clubs in Huntsville that really have supported me and believed in me just because you never can be too big for your home town.

A couple of cover samples plus some songs in his catalog:

Dock of the Bay
Superstition

• In My Place - Coldplay
• Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
• Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
• And It Stoned Me - Van Morrison
• Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison
• I Will Survive - Cake
• Why Georgia - John Mayer
• Wonderland - John Mayer
• Message in a Bottle - The Police
• Crash - Dave Matthews
• Too Much - Dave Matthews Band
• #41 - Dave Matthews Band
• Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
• Stuck in a Moment - U2
• The Joker - Steve Miller Band
• Take the Money and Run - Steve Miller Band
• Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn
• Round Here - Counting Crows
• Long December - Counting Crows
• Layla - Eric Clapton
• Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
• Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
• Before You Accuse Me - Eric Clapton
• Boys In The Hood - Dynamite Hack
• Angel From Montgomery - John Prine
• She Talks to Angels - Black Crows
• I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley
• No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
• Stir It Up - Bob Marley
• Redemption Song - Bob Marley
• Take It Easy - The Eagles
• Wonderwall - Oasis
• Champagne Supernova - Oasis
• Santa Monica - Everclear
• Everlong - Foo Fighters
• Times Like These - Foo Fighters
• Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix
• Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
• All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
• All For You - Sister Hazel
• Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty
• Free Falling - Tom Petty
• Walk Away - Bright Eyes
• Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Two Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Babylon - David Gray
• Stuck in the Middle - Stealers Wheel
• Sweet Melissa - Allman Brothers
• Ramblin' Man - Allman Brothers
• Soul Shine - Allman Brothers
• Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
• Sister Golden Hair Surprise - America
• A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker
• Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band
• Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
• 3AM - Matchbox 20
• Crazy - Leaving Madison
• Am - Leaving Madison

* Bio courtesy of Ben.