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.

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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).

Encore badges

Saved the day!

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

Member of the Encore community forum

Lightning fast responses

Average response time under 2 hours

7th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years

10 gigs

Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore

Musicianship

Genres:

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

See all genres

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

See all event types

Other skills:

Lyricist, Songwriter, Musical comedy

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Ben's Song list

Below songs are available as solo, other songs may be available with live musicians as The Debonairs (jazz), Dino & Gigi (vintage), Acoustic Sunset (acoustic covers) and Kings of Neon (function band)

A Foggy Day in London Town - Michael Buble

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - Harry Connick Jr

Ain't Misbehavin' - Louis Armstrong

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

All of Me - Frank Sinatra

All Or Nothing At All - Frank Sinatra

All The Way - Frank Sinatra

Always On My Mind - Elvis Presley

And I Love You So - Perry Como

Aqua Marina - Stingray

As Time Goes By - Frank Sinatra

Auld Lang Syne - traditional

Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Frank Sinatra

Bare Necessities (Jungle Book) - Louis Prima

Bermuda Triangle - Barry Manilow

Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin

Blue Moon - Dean Martin

Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton

Body and Soul - Tony Bennett

Born Free - Matt Munro

Buona Sera - Michael Buble

Bye Bye Blackbird - Dean Martin

C'est Si Bon- Dean Martin

Call Me Irresponsible - Bobby Darin

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

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams

Cheek to Cheek - Frank Sinatra

Chicago - Frank Sinatra

Come Dance With Me - Frank Sinatra

Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra

Copacabana - Barry Manilow

Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton

Danny Boy - Elvis Presley

Day In, Day Out - Frank Sinatra

Don't Bring Lulu - Billy Morgan

Don't Fence Me In - Bing Crosby

Don't Get Around Much Any More - Duke Ellington

Don't Know Why - Norah Jones

Dream A Little Dream - Michael Buble

Edelweiss - The Sound Of Music

Embraceable You - Frank Sinatra

Every Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald

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

Forever In Blue Jeans - Neil Diamond

French Foreign Legion - Frank Sinatra

From Russia With Love - Matt Monro

Frosty The Snowman - Michael Buble

Georgia On My Mind - Michael Buble

Get Happy - Frank Sinatra

Girl From Ipanema - Frank Sinatra

Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra

Hello Dolly! - Louis Armstrong

High Hopes - Frank Sinatra

I Am, I Said - Neil Diamond

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

I Could Have Danced All Night - Frank Sinatra

I Could Write A Book - Harry Connick Jr

I Get A Kick Out Of You - Frank Sinatra

I Wanna Be Like You (Jungle Book) - Louis Prima

I Won't Dance - Michael Buble

I'll Never Smile Again - Frank Sinatra

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

I'm In The Mood For Love - Frank Sinatra

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

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 Had To Be You - Harry Connick Jr

It Happened In Monterey - Frank Sinatra

It Was A Very Good Year - Frank Sinatra

It's All Right With Me - Harry Connick Jr

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

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

Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra

Just A Gigolo - Louis Prima

Just In Time - Frank Sinatra

Just One Of Those Things - Frank Sinatra

L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole

La Mer (in French) - Charles Trenet

La Vie En Rose - Louis Armstrong

Last Christmas - Postmodern Jukebox

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

Let There Be Love - Nat King Cole

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

Livin' On A Prayer - Postmodern Jukebox

Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra

Love Letters - Nat King Cole

Lovely Day - Bill Withers

Luck Be A Lady - Frank Sinatra

Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin

Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole

Moon River - Frank Sinatra

Moondance - Michael Buble

Moonlight In Vermont - Frank Sinatra

More - Bobby Darin

My Funny Valentine - Frank Sinatra

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

Night and Day - Frank Sinatra

No Diggity - Postmodern Jukebox

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (in French!) - Edith Piaf

Oh What A Beautiful Morning - Howard Keel

Ol Man River - Paul Robeson

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

Please Release Me - Engelbert Humperdink

Que Sera Sera - Doris Day

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

Route 66 - Nat King Cole

Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer - traditional

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bing Crosby

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

Singin In The Rain - Gene Kelly

Sittin' On the Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding

Smile - Nat King Cole

Some Enchanted Evening - Howard Keel

Something Stupid - Frank & Nancy Sinatra

Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond

St James Infirmary - Hugh Laurie

Stormy Weather - Etta James

Straighten Up and Fly Right - Nat King Cole

Strangers In The Night - Frank Sinatra

Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra

Summertime - Sarah Vaughan

Sunny Side Of The Street - Frank Sinatra

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

Sway - Dean Martin

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

Sweet Lorraine - Nat King Cole

Taking A Chance On Love - Frank Sinatra

That's Amore - Dean Martin

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 Nearness of You - Norah Jones

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

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole

Walk Like A Panther - Tony Christie

We Are In Love - Harry Connick Jr

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 You're Smiling - Louis Armstrong

White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Winter Wonderland - Michael Buble

Witchcraft - Frank Sinatra

Wonderwall - Mike Flowers Pops

You Do Something To Me - Frank Sinatra

You Make Me Feel So Young - Frank Sinatra

You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra

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

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

Young At Heart - Frank Sinatra

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.

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

Ben

4.9 out of 5

10 verified reviews

Satisfaction

4.7

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

5.0

Punctuality

4.9

Ben's Reviews

5 out of 5

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

Reply from Ben

5 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

6 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

5 out of 5

Ben was absolutely fabulous and I have had many of my guests contact me to say how entertaining and he was and how they enjoyed listening to his lovely voice. I would definitely recommend him and I will without a doubt book him with no hesitation again.

Reply from Ben

1 year ago

Thanks so much Cheryl! It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and to be able to contribute to your celebration. Would love to do it again!

Read all 6 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