Hire Ben Harpwood | Singer in Birmingham

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From£220

1 hour

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The Debonairs - 4 piece

L O V E

Acoustic Queen covers

About Ben

Ben is a fantastic singer and entertainer. As comfortable fronting a jazz band as hosting a cabaret evening.

3 of 18 photos

Singer

Birmingham

Public liability insurance of £10 million

Verified profile

Ben sings and swings with jazz and swing group The Debonairs, established in 2013. They perform a wide repertoire of jazz and swing standards, from the 1920s to the 1970s. Available with 2-5 members (adding bass, percussion and sax). Ben also performs songs in a similar style by himself (as One Man Frank) and as a guest performer with the "Swindon All Stars" 20-piece big band and Great Gatsby style "Stableyard Jazz Band" Ben is part of the duo Acoustic Sunset. They have been performing handpicked pop classics since 2015 at weddings and festivals across the country. From The Beatles to The Bangles, Buddy Holly to Blur, Bowie to Beyonce, and even some artists that don't begin with a B! Available with 2-4 members (adding drums and bass).

Ben

4.7 out of 5

11 verified reviews

Satisfaction

4.3

Professionalism

4.6

Communication

4.7

Punctuality

4.6

Ben's Reviews

2.5 out of 5

Nice singer but didn’t resonate with the audience which is so important here

Reply from Ben

1 month ago

Oh no! Really sorry the residents didn't enjoy my performance Jilly. I enjoyed meeting them and would be happy to come back but totally understand if they prefer something different.

5 out of 5

Ben was fabulous and we were more than happy with every aspect of the booking.

Reply from Ben

10 months ago

Thank you Jackie! It was lovely that you requested some of my favourite Sinatra numbers that I don't get to sing all that often, such as Summer Wind. Hope the rest of your day went well, Ben x

5 out of 5

Ben was Excellent

Reply from Ben

11 months ago

Thanks very much Keith!

5 out of 5

Ben was fantastic and really added that extra special feel to the celebration. He Was was really great interacting with the audience (they loved him). Can highly recommend Ben for your next event.

Reply from Ben

1 year ago

Thanks so much Claire! Really enjoyed meeting you and everyone

Read all 7 reviews

5 out of 5

The Debonairs were absolutely fantastic! We asked them to step in at the very last minute leading up to our wedding, the process for booking them was quick and simple and they provided all the necessary paperwork for us to hand over to the venue. Performance wise they did a great job at getting the crowd warmed up. They had a challenge with children running around being a bit of a distraction but they were able to keep both the children and adults entertained without affecting their show. They played a diverse mix of classic fifties swing and modern tracks with a swing influence added to them. Myself, my wife and all the guests were thoroughly impressed with the show, anybody who wasn't on the dance floor was sat right next to it so that they could enjoy the music. I can't recommend this band enough. A fantastic act that added to an already fantastic day!

5 out of 5

You really did a fabulous job, a brilliant tribute to Frank, a beautiful voice and what’s more you really engaged with the audience, got stuck in, had fun and made some new fans too. You are part of the team now!

Read all 12 reviews

Encore badges

Lightning fast responses

Average response time under 2 hours

10 gigs

Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore

Saved the day!

Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice

8th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years

Member of the Encore community forum

Ben's Song list

('Til) I Kissed You - The Everly Brothers

A Foggy Day - Frank Sinatra

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square - Harry Connick Jr

Ain't Misbehavin' - Sam Cooke

Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin

All I Have To Do Is Dream - The Everly Brothers

All Or Nothing At All - Frank Sinatra

All The Way - Frank Sinatra

Always On My Mind - Elvis Presley

And I Love Her - The Beatles

Anyone Who Had A Heart - Cilla Black

April In Paris - Frank Sinatra

Aqua Marina - Stingray

As Time Goes By - Frank Sinatra

Auld Lang Syne - anon

Autumn in New York - Frank Sinatra

Baby, It's Cold Outside - Ella Fitzgerald

Bare Necessities - Disney

Besame Mucho - Chris Isaak

Bewitched - Doris Day

Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin

Bird Dog - The Everly Brothers

Blue Moon - The Marcels

Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino

Body and Soul - Frank Sinatra

Born Free - Matt Munro

Buona Sera - Louis Prima

Bye Bye Blackbird - Dean Martin

Bye Bye Love - The Everly Brothers

Call Me Irresponsible - Frank Sinatra

Can't Get Used to Losing You - Andy Williams

Can't Help Falling In Love With You - Elvis Presley

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams

Cathy's Clown - The Everly Brothers

Chicago - Frank Sinatra

Choo Choo Ch'Boogie - Louis Jordan

Come Dance With Me - Frank Sinatra

Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra

Crying in the Rain - The Everly Brothers

Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton

Danny Boy - anon

Day In, Day Out - Frank Sinatra

Daydream Believer - The Monkees

Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans - Louis Armstrong

Don't Bring Lulu - Billy Morgan

Don't Fence Me In - Bing Crosby

Don't Get Around Much Any More - Duke Ellington

Edelweiss - The Sound of Music

Embraceable You - Frank Sinatra

Every Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald

Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes - Dean Martin

Everyday - Buddy Holly

Fascination - Nat King Cole

Fever - Michael Buble

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue - Lewis Henderson

Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra

For Once In My Life - Frank Sinatra

French Foreign Legion - Frank Sinatra

From Russia With Love - Matt Monro

From This Moment On - Frank Sinatra

Frosty The Snowman - Michael Buble

Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles

Get Happy - Frank Sinatra

Girl From Ipanema - Frank Sinatra

Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles

Hello Dolly! - Louis Armstrong

Hide Your Love Away - The Beatles

High Hopes - Frank Sinatra

I Could Have Danced All Night - Frank Sinatra

I Could Write A Book - Harry Connick Jr

I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire - THE INK SPOTS LYRICS

I Get A Kick Out Of You - Frank Sinatra

I Get Along Without You - Billie Holliday

I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher

I Wanna Be Like You - Louis Prima

I Won't Dance - Michael Buble

I'll Never Smile Again - Frank Sinatra

I'm A Believer - The Monkees

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter - Frank Sinatra

I'm In The Mood For Love - Frank Sinatra

In My Life - The Beatles

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning - Frank Sinatra

Is You Is You Ain't My Baby - Louis Jordan

It Don't Mean A Thing - Duke Ellington

It Happened In Monterey - Frank Sinatra

It Was A Very Good Year - Frank Sinatra

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Frank Sinatra

I've Got The World On A String - Frank Sinatra

I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra

Jingle Bells - anon

Just A Gigolo - Louis Prima

Just In Time - Frank Sinatra

Just One Of Those Things - Frank Sinatra

King of the Road - Roger Miller

La Mer - Charles Trenet

La Vie En Rose - Dino et Gigi

Let It Be Me - The Everly Brothers

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin

Let There Be Love - Nat King Cole

Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Ella Fitzgerald

Let's Face The Music and Dance - Nat King Cole

Let's Get Away From It All - Frank Sinatra

Little Old Wine Drinker Me - Dean Martin

Love - Nat King Cole

Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra

Love for Sale - Sarah Vaughan

Love Hurts - The Everly Brothers

Love Letters - Nat King Cole

Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley

Luck Be A Lady - Frank Sinatra

Mack the Knife - Frank Sinatra

Mambo Italiano - Dean Martin

Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin Stevens

Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole

Moon River - Audrey Hepburn

Moondance - Van Morrison

Moonlight In Vermont - Frank Sinatra

More - Bobby Darin

Move Over Darling - Doris Day

My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone

My Funny Valentine - Frank Sinatra

My Girl - The Temptations

My Kind Of Town - Frank Sinatra

My Way - Frank Sinatra

Nature Boy - Nat King Cole

New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

Nice n Easy - Frank Sinatra

Nice Work If You Can Get It - Frank Sinatra

Night and Day - Frank Sinatra

Norwegian Wood - Beatles

Oh Boy! - Buddy Holly

Oh What A Beautiful Morning - Howard Keel

Ol Man River - Paul Robeson

On An Evening In Roma - Dean Martin

On Days Like These - Matt Monro

On The Street Where You Live - Nat King Cole

One For My Baby - Frank Sinatra

Our Love Is Here To Stay - Harry Connick Jr

Pennies From Heaven - Frank Sinatra

Putting On The Ritz - Fred Astaire

Quando Quando Quando - Engelbert Humperdinck

Que Sera Sera - Doris Day

Return To Me - Dean Martin

Return To Sender - Elvis Presley

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson

Route 66 - Chuck Berry

Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer - anon

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bing Crosby

Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week - Frank Sinatra

Save The Last Dance For Me - The Drifters

Sealed with a Kiss - Brian Hyland

September Song - Billie Holliday

Singin In The Rain - Gene Kelly

Sittin' On the Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding

Some Enchanted Evening - Howard Keel

Something Stupid - Frank Sinatra

Somethings Gotta Give - Frank Sinatra

St James' Infirmary - Hugh Laurie

Stardust - Nat King Cole

Stormy Weather - Etta James

Straighten Up and Fly Right - Nat King Cole

Strangers In The Night - Frank Sinatra

Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra

Summer Wine - Nancy Sinatra

Summertime - SARAH VAUGHAN

Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks

Sunny Side Of The Street - Frank Sinatra

Sway - Dean Martin

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

Sweet Lorraine - Nat King Cole

Taking A Chance On Love - Frank Sinatra

That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly

That's Life - Frank Sinatra

The Best Is Yet To Come - Frank Sinatra

The Continental - Fred Astaire

The Lady Is A Tramp - Frank Sinatra

The More I See You - Chris Montez

The Nearness of You - Frank Sinatra

The Tender Trap - Frank Sinatra

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

They Can't Take That Away From Me - Frank Sinatra

Things - Bobby Darin

This Guy's In Love With You - Herb Alpert

Too Marvellous For Words - Frank Sinatra

Too Young - Nat King Cole

Top Hat, White Tie, & Tails - Fred Astaire

True Love Ways - Buddy Holly

True Love Will Find You In The End - Beck

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole

Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers

We Have All the Time in the World - Louis Armstrong

What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

When I Fall in Love - Nat King Cole

When The Saints Go Marching In - Louis Armstrong

When Will I Be Loved - The Everly Brothers

When You're Smiling - Louis Armstrong

Where Do You Go To My Lovely - Peter Sarstedt

White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Winter Wonderland - Michael Buble

Witchcraft - Frank Sinatra

You Belong To Me - Billie Holliday

You Do Something To Me - Frank Sinatra

You Make Me Feel So Young - Frank Sinatra

You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra

You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Frank Sinatra

Young At Heart - Frank Sinatra

You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin

You're The Cream In My Coffee - Nat King Cole

Ben's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Performance duration	Price
Short performance (up to 15 min)	£160
Up to 1 hour	£220
Up to 2 hours	£250
Up to 3 hours	£300

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I bring an authentic rat pack sound to any event and people love that I mingle with the crowd while performing. I can also mix in a few jazz versions of more modern songs such as Living On A Prayer and Wonderwall for a bit of fun.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Many, many wedding venues... I have also sung in one of Gareth Malone's choirs on BBC 2 and in front of the Queen at the opening of Birmingham's revamped New St Station!

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Buble, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Harry Connick Jr, Ray Charles...

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

I have sung at many occasions including the weddings of celebrities, the opening of Birmingham's New St Station (in front of the Queen!) and at large public events such as food and car festivals. No event is too big or small!

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

These things often happen and won't usually affect the price. Please do let me know though in case I have other commitments that day.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes. I have huge selection of background music so can tailor this to the event. I can also bring lighting rig and host a disco (run from Spotify on my laptop) after the final set until the early hours for an additional £180.

How much time do you need to set up?

Ad a solo performer I only need around 30 minutes to set up. Or around an hour if you would also like me to host a disco afterwards. If you have booked me with musicians then we usually need around an hour to set up and sound check.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Of course! I'm happy to discuss songs with you. Most clients let me know some songs they love so I can tailor my set to match. Please also enquire about any songs that aren't on my set list.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yep! I have a wireless set up so usually roam around the room (or garden if the weather's nice!) while I sing.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes. I'd be happy to learn one new song for your event, but would charge £30 for any additional new songs to cover practice time.

Musicianship

Genres:

Swing, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, Jazz, Cabaret, Easy listening, Vintage

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Instruments:

Singer, Singer (baritone)

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Event types:

Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

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Other skills:

Lyricist, Songwriter, Musical comedy

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