Mike Benjamin, Professional Pianist
7 reviews- Knoxville, TN
- Pianist
- Travels up to 500 miles
- $175 - $3,000
Overview
Solo piano, bands (sax, violin, dance bands) for Anniversaries, Weddings, Cocktail Hours, Receptions, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Ceremonies & Parties, Grand Openings, Private Parties, Restaurants, and Reunions. His styles include jazz, pop, Broadway, ambient, country, light classical and light rock. He owns a good electric keyboard if required.
7 Reviews
I set out to hire a pianist for a night during our stay at a mountain cabin rental equipped with a baby grand. Mike was professional, quick to respond, and reasonably priced so I hired him. Boy was I glad I did! The event was for a family dinner to celebrate my folks' 50th. They loved it! Mike played all tunes my folks' knew. His repertoire was vast and he was more than happy to accompany impromptu sing-alongs with the singer in the family- switching to her key without skipping a beat! He seemed perfectly comfortable being in the background during dinner or engaged with us after dinner. I highly recommend Mike for any event!
Pianist
Response from Mike Benjamin, Professional Pianist:
Thank you, Dawn! It was a pleasure playing for you.
Photos from this event
Mike worked with vocalists to gather and learn new music for my ceremony. I received several compliments about him throughout the evening.
Pianist
Music was exceptional and provided a special background for the 75th birthday party. Mike was especially friendly and entertaining. We had many many comments from attendees on how great the music was.
Pianist
Beautiful music...exactly what we were looking for our open house.
Classical Pianist, Keyboard Player
Response from Mike Benjamin, Professional Pianist:
Thanks, Adam. You have a beautiful store and wonderful staff, and I look forward to seeing you again.
Mike can play any song you might suggest and has an easy approachable manner. He is anxious to accommodate your specific needs. We enjoyed classic standards during the reception as well as more formal classical choices for the ceremony. His playing added the sparkle we needed while not over powering conversation.
Pianist
Mike was a true professional - coordination was easy, he arrived early, and was open to suggestions. We were amazed that he didn't appear to need any sheet music. That included a special request. He played it by ear and got it. It was a really nice touch for our party.
Jazz Pianist
This review is a Combined Review.
General Review: I have been aware of Mr Benjimin for the past six months as a painist in a Knoxville restaurant where I have enjoyed both his dinner music as well as dancing to his broad selection of music from show tunes to jazz and everything in between. He is very talented, personable and appears to make every effort to give the customers a special evening.
Client Review: On the basis of the above, I hired Mr. Benjmin for a party of about 50 people. The evening was all that I could have asked for. My guests enjoyed listening and dancing to his music.
I would hire him again.
Pianist
Booking Info
About
Though he has just joined this site five years ago, Mike Benjamin has played solo piano in the East Tennessee area for over forty years at weddings, conventions, parties, anniversaries, concerts, fund-raisers, and many social events. He has played at many local venues, including Santo's Italian Restaurant, Pigeon Forge, for over fifteen years, and Knoxville's Regas Restaurant (The Gathering Place), which featured fine dining and dancing. He plays a wide variety of styles (jazz, swing, Broadway, pop, ambient, light classical, light rock) and is said to have an elegant touch. BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO SAMPLES OF MIKE'S PLAYING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PAGE.
Numerous appearances with local groups such as the Knoxville Pops Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Brad Walker Orchestra, Rosewood Trio, Johnson Swingtet, and Al Colombo (violin) trio have made Mike a well known pianist/keyboardist. These group appearances have placed Mike in Knoxville's Tennessee Theater, Bijou Theater, Cherokee Country Club, Bistro Cafe, Barleys, Crown & Goose, Foundry, and Rouxbarb Restaurant. He also appeared with local singer Barb Lynne and Robbie Arledge in duo performances at the Orangery Restaurant. In addition to these group appearances, Mike has played solo grand piano most Saturdays at Sevierville's Bistro 109, and Sundays at the Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church.
If your event requires more than just a piano player, Mike has played with many professional musicians in the area; two of his favorites are Jack Furnari on saxophone/clarinet in a jazz/swing setting and Al Colombo on violin. (Some duets with Al appear here in Mike's audio samples). Both exhibit the highest caliber of playing and have enjoyed a wonderful musical collaboration with Mike in duo situations.
Whatever your event needs, Mike will be glad to discuss them in a friendly, helpful manner. Particular songs and styles, length of job/sets plus possible overtime, required dress, extra equipment needs; these are some of the topics with which Mike will be assisting you via phone or email. Feel free to contact him about any concerns from the contact information provided on this site.
Here is a partial song list from Mike's repertoire:
(Our) Love is Here to Stay
A Kiss to Build a Dream on
A Quiet Place
A Taste of Honey
Ain't Misbehavin'
All I Ask of You
All of Me
Always
An Affair to Remember
Arrivederci, Roma
As Time Goes By
Auld Land Syne
Ave Maria - Schubert
Baby Elephant Walk
Back to Sorrento
Bali Hai
Be My Love
Beautiful Dreamer
Beauty and the Beast
Because
Besame Mucho
Bill Bailey
Blame it on my Youth
Blue Bayou
Blue Bossa
Blue Moon
Body and Soul
Bye Bye Blackbird
Canadian Sunset
Canon in D
Can't Help Falling in Love with You
Carolina Moon
Cartoon Medley
Chances Are
Chariots of Fire
Claire de Lune
Close to You
Color My World
Danny Boy
Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?
Don't Blame Me
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Don't it Make Your Brown Eyes Blue
Ebb Tide
Embraceable You
Emily
Fascination
Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue
For the Good Times
For Your Eyes Only
Fur Elise
Georgia on My Mind
Girl from Ipanema
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Greensleeves
Happy Talk
Happy Trails
Harbor Lights
Havah Nagilah
Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Heart and Soul
I don't Know How to Love Him
I Just Called to Say I Love You
I'm in the Mood for Love
In the Garden
In the Mood
It Had to Be You
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Killing Me Softly..
Last Date
Laura
Let it Be
Linus and Lucy (from Charlie Brown)
Love Me Tender
Memory (from Cats)
Misty
Moon River
Moonlight Sonata
Music Box Dancer
Music of the Night
My Funny Valentine
Night and Day
One Hand , One Heart (West Side Story)
Over the Rainbow
Patriotic Medley
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head
Rocky Top
'Round Midnight
Satin Doll
Send in the Clowns
Some Enchanted Evening
Someone to Watch Over Me
Somewhere (West Side Story)
Somewhere in Time
Somewhere, My Love
Stompin' at the Savoy
Tenderly
That's Amore!
The Entertainer
The Lord's Prayer
The Sunny Side of the Street
The Wedding Song (There is Love)
True Love
Trumpet Voluntary
TV Theme Medley
Unforgettable
Wave
What a Wonderful World
What the World Needs Now..
What's New?
When You Wish upon a Star
Whole New World
With a Little Help from my Friends
Yesterday
You are the Sunshine of my Life
You Light of My Life
You'll Never Walk Alone
Younger than Springtime
AND MANY MORE..
Services Offered
Past Booked Events
| August 11, 2018 • 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| July 28, 2018 • 11:30am - 1:30pm | Surprise |
| March 10, 2018 • 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Wedding Reception |
| February 03, 2018 • 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Birthday Party |
| October 05, 2017 • 5:00pm - 8:30pm | Grand Opening |
| April 07, 2017 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm | Personal Occasion |
| February 28, 2017 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Holiday Party (Other) |
| October 15, 2016 • 4:30pm - 10:00pm | Wedding Reception |
| June 10, 2016 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm | Anniversary Party |
| April 24, 2015 | Launch Party |
Influences & Inspiration
Oscar Peterson, Nat King Cole, Roger Williams, Floyd Kramer, Sarah Vaughn, Glen Miller, Tony Bennet