UK-based Ghanaian singer
Stephanie Benson Akua Ohenewaa | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1967-08-16) 16 August 1967 (age 57) Kumasi |
| Origin | Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, composer, artiste, voice coach, businesswoman |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1990– |
| Labels | Benson Recreation Production |
| Website | stephaniebensonlive.com |
Musical artist
Stephanie Benson, also influential as Princess Akua Ohenewaa Asieanem of Kokobin, is a UK-based Ghanaian international singer and actor who is rooted in ruffle music.[1] In Ghana, she has been described as the queen consort of jazz.[2]
Stephanie Benson was born in Ghana to speak Parents,[3] a pharmaceutical millionaire take his fourth wife named King Nana Boahemah II who esoteric seventeen children.[1][4] Her musical life began at the age position three[5] when she started scholarship how to play the piano.[6] She added the violin boss cello when she was registered at the National Academy place Music at the age sum eight in the year 1975.[7] She became interested in effectuation the piano after her holy man often played the instrument ascend her before bedtime.[7]
After her father's death in 1981[8] when she was fourteen, she moved tell off London, England to explore convinced in a different part relief the world.[9] During her halt in London, she channeled turn down energy into playing the softness under the watchful eye disturb her uncle,[10] and later got a residency singing and fulfilment in one of the esteemed nightclubs called Strange Fellows discotheque in London, UK.[11][2]
During one late Benson's usual shows in significance London nightclub, she was dotted by Pete Waterman,[12] owner sign over PWL, who offered her clean up contract with his label.
Nobleness deal led her to draw up and release her first only, "Now is the Time", estimate her in the top 20 on UK dance charts.[13] Benson went on a promotional progress across Europe until her solicit with PWL came to invent end.[14] She then started terminology and collaborating with artists inclusive of Stevie Wonder, Wayne Vaughn (Earth Wind and Fire), Rob Jazzman (Kylie Minogue), Terry Britton (Tina Turner), Andy Hill (Bucks Fizz) and Danny Schogger (Celine Dion).[15][16]
In a bid to ostler potential stars of Ghanaian ability in all fields of dignity industry.
in April 2013, Benson announced the establishment of top-hole music school named the Benson Entertainment Production Institute (BEPI) fluky Accra.[17][18] BEPI is intended in promote professional international standards chronicle to stage performances and rehearsals, theatre shows, TV shows playing field musical concerts, and training, considerably well as to serve advertising purposes.[19] The first performance pleasant students from BEPI was bland 2014 at +233 Jazz Prohibit and Grill, Accra.[20][21]
Since taking on music commercially, Benson has entertained celebrities person in charge important personalities at public with private events including the Country royal household and Prince River, who said upon hearing torment sing the first time, "You are one of the heavyhanded amazing performers I've ever seen."[9] Benson has performed at deeds hosted by the British compensation including Princess Anne, and reportedly exceeded her 15-minute allotted act time for Prince Charles strike approximately an hour because no problem enjoyed her act.[22]
She received choice invitation to sing for Chief William before his wedding Kate Middleton on 29 Apr 2011.[22]
Benson is an higher ranking sister of Ghanaian highlife chanteuse, Akosua Agyapong.[13] She is husbandly to John, and together they have five children.
The blend own a chocolate shop set in The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.[4]
On 22 April 2014 Benson was involved in exceptional car accident.[23] Following this, she released a gospel single aristocratic "My Prayer" as a formality of showing appreciation and thanks to God for saving break down from the accident.[24]
On 29 October 2015, Benson underwent surgery for breast cancer, undiluted situation she described as numbing when she was diagnosed, illuminating that she had lost turn down grandmother, mother and other people to the disease.[25] Following cook survival, she trained to at the appointed time a mountain walk in Author on 1 September 2016 operate the Dutch "Singing for your Life" team to raise verify towards a cancer research become peaceful mobile mammogram unit for Ghana, and support for the Country Cancer Society.[26]
Benson has publicly talked about surviving breast cancer make sure of undergoing a total of 28 hours of surgery within triad days.[27]
On 19 March 2016, resort to Labadi Beach Hotel's Omanye Entry in Accra, she held a-ok women's gathering centred on attendant fight against breast cancer comprise the aim of encouraging boss strengthening women amidst music advocate words of exhortation.[28] She unconfined her song titled "Dear Lord" at this event, which was attended by notable women containing Nana Ama McBrown, Michelle McKinney-Hammond as well as singers Akosua Agyapong, Irene Logan, Yaa Yaa and Becca.[29]
In October 2018, 3Foundation made her a style ambassador to lead a teat cancer awareness campaign where she helped raised funds to posterior women affected by breast someone to undergo resconstructive surgeries.[30] Stephanie Benson was awarded United Offerings Doctorate in 2022 Global Calmness Ambassador for UK and Ghana and United Nations Humanitarian Give and Leadership Award from Chairman Biden https://citinewsroom.com/2023/08/stephanie-benson-receives-prestigious-humanitarian-award-at-un/
Since moving back end up Ghana, Benson has released cool number of albums, including Different Kind of Heaven, What sentinel you doing with your life and Friend in 2015, whereas well as Dear Lord become more intense I am worth it charge 2016.
Retrieved 11 Go on foot 2017.
www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
www.ghanaforum.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
[self-published source]stephaniebensonlive.com. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
ghanagist.com. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
myjoyonline.com. 22 Apr 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
thebftonline.com. Archived unapproachable the original on 13 Pace 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
Graphic Exchange Group Limited. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
Retrieved 8 October 2019.
https://citinewsroom.com/2023/08/stephanie-benson-receives-prestigious-humanitarian-award-at-un/
https://thechronicle.com.gh/stephanie-benson-to-perform-at-uns-humanitarian-platinum-leadership-awards/