Actor/Musician
Steve Benden is a dynamic performer who thrills the audience on stage from start to finish. His ‘That’s The Way It Was’ Elvis Tribute Artist show is electrifying. This show is high energy and Steve has the ability to cover all three decades of Elvis Presley’s career. It also shows Steve’s ability to act, move and dance on stage while providing the complete entertainment package. Steve performs stage shows from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s as well as the movies. That’s The Way It Was engages the audience pre-show, throughout the performance, and post show. Steve entertains the audience throughout ensuring each fan has their own personal experience. In addition to performing Elvis shows, Steve is also an independent recording artist with international airplay and an experience band leader. Steve recently retired as a Colonel from the Air Force, after serving 32 years. Therefore, many of his shows were performed as benefits or as an additional set with his band, with no marketing, to maintain ethical standards with his commissioned status.
www.exploretalent.com/steve18204
www.reverbnation.com/stevebenden
Areas of Expertise
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Elvis Tribute Artist
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Recording Artist
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Songwriter
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Band Leader/Frontman
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Vocals – Lead & Harmonies
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Lead & Rhythm Guitar
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Bass Guitar
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Piano & Keyboards
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Alto & Tenor Saxophone
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Tenor Saxophone
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Harmonica
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Mandolin, Uke, Banjo
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Military
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Government
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Corporate
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Briefings
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Conference Speaker
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Fitness
Qualifications
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Elvis Tribute Shows 1999-Present
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Band leader and member 1989-2010
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Acoustic Entertainer 1984-Present
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Talent Show performances 1984-Present
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Musician, Producer, Arranger, Recording Engineer
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Songwriter
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Member of BMI
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CD Releases – 12
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International reach on internet radio
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“Don’t Break My Heart” #1 twice
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“Don’t Break My Heart and Conditional Critical currently in rotation
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Original music internet radio and available on iTunes, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and more
Experience
Elvis Tribute Artist 1999-Present
Steve Benden is a dynamic performer who thrills the audience from start to finish. His ‘That’s The Way It Was’ show is electrifying. This show is high energy and Steve has the ability to cover all three decades of Elvis Presley’s career. Steve performs stage shows from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s as well as the movies. That’s The Way It Was engages the audience pre-show, throughout the performance, and post show. Steve entertains the audience throughout ensuring
each fan has their own personal experience. Steve recently retired as a Colonel from the Air Force, after serving 32 years. Therefore, many of his shows were performed as benefits or as an additional set with his band, with no marketing, to maintain ethical standards with his commissioned status.
Steve performed Elvis songs at talent shows, acoustic shows and band shows prior to 1999. Finally the volume for requests of an Elvis floor show reached a crescendo. While Steve continued to mix in Elvis songs with band performances, a short 50’s montage was soon added to the typical weekend gig. Additionally, an Elvis 70’s floor show was added to bigger events such as Valentines, Halloween, and New Year’s Eve dances. Before long, Steve was playing an
Elvis Vegas set with every gig till 2010. After leaving his last band to focus on songwriting, Steve continued to do his Elvis 70s show for fundraisers and benefits including most recently the Night of 100 Elivses in Baltimore. www.nightof100elvises.com/all-performers
Recording Artist 1996-Present
www.reverbnation.com/stevebenden
Steve is an independent recording artist, member of BMI, who’s written and recorded hundreds of songs and released 12 CDs. His first airplay came on WRNR in Annapolis in 1996. He continued to write while playing covers with his bands. Finally, in 2008, he made a concerted effort to focus on recording. Occasional airplay on a Nashville internet stationed followed. In 2015, Steve began submitting mastered recordings to The Akademia in Los Angeles. He soon began to win awards, gaining significant airplay on internet stations across the world. In 2017, his song Don’t Break My Heart twice reached number 1 with two different internet radio conglomerates (Power XR Radio and Berkshire Media Group). He was honored at the Akademia Music Gala in 2017 in Los Angeles and has been invited for his accomplishments once again for 2018.
http://www.TheAkademia.com/spinreports/SteveBenden-ConditionCritical1.html
http://www.TheAkademia.com/spinreports/SteveBenden-DontBreakMyHeart9.html
http://www.TheAkademia.com/spinreports/SteveBenden-EvilWomanT1.html
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Band Leader 1989-2010
Exit 7- 1988-1989
The Green Onions 1989-2001
Shades of Dawn 2004-2010
Steve has been the lead in bands since 1989. His vocal, guitar, and sax ability were instrumental set the bands apart but being an entertainer and front man were the ingredients that led to success. His bands played a variety of music from all genres and always included a stage show. From oldies, to classic rock, to Motown to country to the latest hits, these bands could bring what the crowds wanted.
Acoustic Artist 1984-Present
Steve’s dad taught him his first chords and song, That’s All Right in high school. Always being an avid Elvis fan, Steve learned every Elvis song he could along with Rick Nelson, Little Richard, CCR, Dion, The Drifters and so on. He bought his first guitar in the Air Force and continued plying his trade. Having joined at 17, he was too young to get into many places unless he had a guitar. From there he did acoustic gigs in addition to his bands and he continues to this day.
Education, Training, and Work Experience
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Air Force: July 1984 – March 2016 - Retired Colonel
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Masters of Science in Management, Air and Space Strategic Studies
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University of Maryland, University College
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Graduate Certificate: Leadership & Management
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University of Maryland, University College
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Bachelor of Science – Accounting, Minor – Business & Management
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University of Maryland, University College
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Air War College
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Air Command and Staff College
Awards and Other Activities
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Night of 100 Elvises, Baltimore, MD – Dec 2017
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Condition Critical – new single- internet radio rotation Nov 2017
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Invite – 2018 Akademia Gala, Los Angeles, CA, Apr 2018; honoring achievements
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Don’t Break My Heart - #1 Sept 2017 – Power XR Radio Network
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Don’t Break My Heart - #1 May 2017 – Berkshire Media Group
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Love Saint – Artist Spotlight – Best Alternative Rock Song – May 2017
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Bad Habit – Best Country Song – May 2017
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The Akademia Gala – Apr 2017 – honored as award winner and music achievements
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Condition Critical – Best Alternative Rock Song – Feb 2017
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Working Class Man – Best County Song – Feb 2017
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Don’t Break My Heart – Best Alternative Rock Song – Oct 2016
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Wrapped Up Tight – Best Country Song – Oct 2016
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Marquix Global Network - Artist Spotlight – Steve Benden – Aug 2016
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The American Man – Best Alternative Rock /Americana Song – Jun 2016
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Follow The Southern Wind – Best Country/Rock Song – Jun 2016
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Evil Woman – Best Alternative Rock/Country Song – March 2016
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CD release – Tangled Up With You – Dec 2017
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CD release – Don’t Break My Heart, The Winter Sessions – Aug 2017
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CD release – Working Class Man, Feb 2017
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CD release – Weekend State of Mind, 2016
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CD release – Company Store, 2016
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CD release – Evil Woman, The Spring Sessions, 2015
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CD release – Americana, 2015
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CD release – Wrapped Up Tight, 2013
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CD release – Get Up, 2012
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CD release – The Hampstead Project, 2010
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CD release – Shameless Pain, 2009
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CD release – Condition Critical, 2008
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You Can Be A Star – Baltimore finalist – 1989
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Tops & Blue base talent show - 1st place – Shaw AFB, 1986
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Tops & Blue – base talent show - 2nd place – Shaw AFB, 1987
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Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
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Society for Human Resource Management
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International Association of Chiefs of Police
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Military Officers Association of America
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National Emergency Management Association