Played guitar and sang in groups and bands throughout the 60's - 80's. Took to songwriting in the 90's when my career as an Ops Manager and then Theatre Manager meant playing gigs was no longer possible. Now retired, I write and record at home, mainly Americana/Country Rock but I try to go wherever inspiration takes me. I enjoy collaborating online. Partners include Emma Jane from Scotland who provided an amazing vocal to Love Is In The Things I Do. Julia Schmidt from New Jersey, we made the BJ Country charts for about 2 years with We Can Be Lovers Again. Fellow BJammer, Junior Murrell, invited me to provide a vocal for his song and CC Lamondt and I pooled resources for a few years.  Susan Odella invited me to join her in producing her wonderful song Falling Away.  More recently I have collaborated with John Waldradt & Cyndi Corkran and am involved in a work in progress, yet to be revealed. 

Primarily a guitarist but can play keyboard



Latest News

As I reported previously, Achill Lament reached the finals of the UK Songwriting Contest 2022, something only 4 of my songs have achieved over many years of entering this contest.  I was hoping it might just win one of the categories but now the results are in and it is officially a runner-up in both!  I should be grateful I have got to the finals, and I am, but I would love to win one of these years.  I don't think it would be life changing, but it might just persuade my family that I can write and produce songs!!


Great to see My Christmas Love in the BJ charts, well done Cyndi for a great vocal.

Just revised Blue Two after receiving feedback from friends and coming to some of my own conclusions regarding dynamics/variety.  Now has a violin lead bridge and more Spanish acoustic guitar.  Hoping for more feedback.

Family & Interests

Family & Interests

I have a lovely wife and a close family.  We all ive in the South Of England

When I'm not playing or writing music, I'm a keen golfer and enjoy video, computers and gadgets in general.

Musical Background

Musical Background

I have no formal guitar or keyboard training and play by ear.  I have been a guitar player and lead or second vocalist since the age of 13, performing in various bands and groups in a variety of styles from Pop, to Heavy Rock, to Folk & Modern Country.  I have also been a solo folk performer and, most recently, performed my own songs to theatre audiences of up to 850 in the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.  
My guitar playing has been influenced by a variety of artistes and styles including Mark Knopfler, The Eagles, Don Williams, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Deep Purple and Santana.  This has helped me to perform and write in different genres but I particularly enjoy modern country music.  I play keyboard well enough to provide piano accompaniment and additional instrumentation to my recordings and I sing all the lead parts and most harmonies.

I record at home on PC using Cakewalk software and good quality equipment including a Yamaha Genos keyboard, Fender Strat, Ibanez Talman, Behringer amp, Peavey mic etc.

I was in a band which was "discovered" by Decca Records in the mid 60's whilst recording at the famous Regent Sound Studios in Denmark Street, London - and had the thrill of playing a guitar which belonged to the Stones during the recording session. Unfortunately, a disastrous live audition put an end to that particular venture! A link to a blog with photos and music is on my website.

Songwriting

Songwriting

Started writing songs in a group but my interest really got going when I was no longer able to play in a group because of evening work commitments.  My first serious breakthrough came when Joe Brown took two of my songs on his Nashville session.  

UK Songwriting Contest - October 2012 to 2021
The contest is open to signed and unsigned artistes worldwide with a typical field of 9000+. In the region of 30 entries over the years resulting in 1 Final Place, many semi-final certificates and a smaller number of commendations.   

BBC Radio Appearances
Several songs have featured on Internet Radio Stations including The Flash fm and UK Country Radio.  Was featured on BBC Radio Solent in January 2013 when the results of the UK Songwriting Contest were discussed and Acceptance was played on air.  Featured on the Richard Cartridge Show on BBC Radio Solent on Christmas Day 2011 when Christmas Thoughts was played and I was interviewed live on air.

Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth
Performed solo and in a duet to audiences ranging from 450 to 850 at Bournemouth Pavilion every Christmas for 10 years.  Christmas Thoughts was a particular hit in 2011, selling out my CD stock. Was asked to perform again in 2014 so wrote Dance Hall Of dreams for the concert.  It really appealed to people of a certain age and brought the house down!  A CD sell out again.

Online Presence
My music is on several music networking sites including amazingtunes.com, Reverbnation but most especially Broadjam. Have had tracks in many different charts on Broadjam.com including several chart #1s. Emma Jane (Scotland) and Julia Schmidt (New Jersey, USA) have both sung the vocals on my songs.  Emma sang Love Is In The Things I Do (formerly Acceptance) and Julia and I performed a transatlantic duet of We Can Be Lovers Again, never meeting or speaking to each other during the process.  I have since helped with arrangements of new songs and covers for several BJ artists, especially Julia Schmidt.
A very enjoyable collaboration with Susan Odella, producing Falling Away which was almost all Susan's content with help from me for the bridge.

Careers

Military and Theatre Management Careers

A successful military career from joining as a boy soldier to retiring in 1987.  My second career started at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) in April 1991, before becoming manager of the Pavilion Theatre in 1992.  Retired in the Summer of 2011.

Connect:
  • Member Since: 2013

Playlists

This Artist has 52 Playlists

Comments

Author
Susan Odella
1 week ago to Bob Bentley

Thanks, Bob, for the stars on "Fallen" - appreciated!
Susan

4 Replies
 
Bob Bentley
1 week ago

I really like it Susan, especially that version. Are the harmonies all separate human voices or computer/midi generated?
Cheers,
Bob

Susan Odella
1 week ago

It is the original female vocalist from 2015, and a few years ago, I added a favorite male vocalist's harmonies...3 tracks, which I remixed in myself, and then added bass from the original production. Thanks for asking!
Susan

Bob Bentley
1 week ago

Complex stuff! It really works.

Susan Odella
1 week ago

Thanks...I can hear a few tiny fixes, but it really doesn't matter. This one doesn't match the main acoustic version the publisher has, so it won't get anywhere. It was just for my own fun :)



Author
John Walradt
over 30 days ago to Bob Bentley

Hi, Bob. I listened to Blues 2 and 3. The spirited 2 with Latin influences is definitely engaging. Blues 3 is more relaxed, somber, and your guitar playing sounds a lot like Mark Knopfler, which is enviable, even if it is a homage to Santana who I associate with having a slight wail to the strings. But that's just personal bias. I'd be thrilled if I could play like you after all these decades but I'm happy to be able to play well enough just to compose! John

1 Replies
 
Bob Bentley
over 30 days ago

Hi John,
Thanks as always for the great feedback you provide, this time for Blue Two. I'm flattered with regard to my guitar playing, it seems to be holding out better than my singing voice!! I do still very much enjoy getting the old Strat out and I've recently bought a NU-X practice amp that's about the size of a small smart speaker!! Not only is it a great sounding (and loud) gizmo, it comes with a wifi jackplug for the guitar which connects to the guitar to the amp without wires and without latency.
Thanks again for your comments.
Cheers for now,
Bob
BTW Have uploaded a better version of Blue Two, more accurate guitar bends etc.



Author
John Walradt
over 30 days ago to Bob Bentley

I like those songs that come to me with the chorus first, and especially those that pop up quickly. "Rivers that Flow" has your very good gift of writing a lilting melody, pleasant and easy to follow...something of a foot tapper, too. One of my best tunes, "Far From Home," came to me within about three minutes. I almost always get the tune first, then sometimes I have try to find out what the tune feels like, for it to give me its title so I can write the words.

2 Replies
 
Bob Bentley
over 30 days ago

Thanks for the listen and the stars John. Rivers That Flow is a bit of a filler, I like it but it's not one of my best for sure. Had a relisten to Far From Home, it's a fine song with great lyrics, well performed.
Keep well,

Bob

John Walradt
over 30 days ago

True, "Rivers that Flow" is not near the heights of "Rolling On" and the classic "Back to a Younger Me," however, it is still good and it would be among the better and best songs for a lot of Broadjam members. Even with "Rivers that Flow," you're careful with the construction of a tune and fitting the lyrics to the mood of the song. Thank you for the relisten of "Far From Home." I've always been happy with that song for its melody and for being a very good story. I think these days it doesn't fare out as well over here because lyrically it is a vulnerable song, but that's what I often write. The trend now seems to be for more cavalier and tough lyrics ever since rap and the new style of country (can we really call it country?...I think it's more pop with a twang) took over.



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