Ian Benjamin - Singing Pianist

AS A SINGING PIANIST:
- A repertoire of 700+ songs, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel to Bon Jovi, ABBA to Adele, Elton John to Ed Sheeran, the Beatles to Bruno Mars.
- Jazzy cocktail hour? Check. Acoustic pop covers? Check. Slam-dunk sing-along dance party? Super check.
- When the time is right: Christmas and Holiday parties!

AS A PIANO PLAYER/KEYBOARDIST:
- 25 years experience playing piano.
- Ability to read music, chord charts, and lead sheets; excellent sight-reader.
- I can also do weddings and ceremonial music!

Ian is the Owner and Operator of QUEEN CITY KEYS, a live music entertainment company based in Charlotte, NC, offering Solo, Duo, and Trio performances, Dueling Pianos and a Party Band! With over 250 annual bookings including birthdays, weddings, engagement parties, and more, QUEEN CITY KEYS boasts a roster of some of the most sought-after musicians in the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Ian has entertained audiences of all ages in two dozen states and over fifty countries world-wide, coupling his high-energy, fun, upbeat performances with his charming, witty, positive personality. He has worked as a singer, a pianist, a singing pianist, a music director, a cruise director, and an entertainment manager. Career highlights include eight years working at sea, traveling the world while performing in award-winning entertainment aboard cruise ships, and performing in New York City, including the famous 54 Below cabaret and the West End Lounge.

Originally from Ohio, Ian got his BFA in Musical Theatre from Wright State University. While in college, he paid his rent by music directing various student productions, and accompanying a local church choir. He moved to New York in 2016, where he promptly booked his first gig as a Lead Vocalist on a Holland America Line cruise ship. A couple years later, he began working as a Piano Bar Entertainer, engaging crowds by playing hit songs from the past eight decades in his signature interactive style. After the pandemic, he was head-hunted to be the cruise director for the inaugural season onboard the American Countess steamboat, sailing the Mississippi River on a luxury old-style paddle-wheeler, where he performed "Ten Grand" -- a rocking show highlighting the music of history's greatest singing pianists -- to rave reviews.

Now semi-retired from life on the water, with nearly twenty years of professional experience under his belt, Ian is thrilled to spend most of his time singing and playing in and around Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Eva.

Electrical outlet and space for a keyboard.
I've got everything else covered!