Ben Harper Wiki: 5 Facts To Know About Laura Dern's Ex-Husband

Ben Harper was born on October 28th, 1969 in Pomona, California. The future musician was born to his mother, Ellen Chase-Verdries and his father, Leonard Harper. His late father was of African-American and Cherokee ancestry, and his mother, Ellen Chase-Verdries, is Jewish. Ben Harper experienced heartbreak for the first time, that would later bleed out into his music when his parents divorced at the age of 5. Harper has two brothers, Joel and Peter Harper. Ben Harper grew up on the west coast and the whole attitude has complimented his music and movie projects nicely. Harper began playing guitar as a young child and in 1978, at the age of 9, Harper attended Bob Marley's performance in Burbank, California. According to Harper, this was an important influence early in his life.

Ben Harper played his first gig at the age of 12 years old, which is extremely impressive in itself. To add to this, Harper was playing slide guitar and mimicking the style of Robert Johnson, arguably the greatest guitarist of all time that almost every guitarist or band that you love, took from the legend. Throughout the 1980's, Harper further defined his music technique, taking up the Weissenborn slide guitar. Harper went on his first tour in 1990 with Taj Mahal, touring Hawaii. After releasing a limited edition LP, "Pleasure and Pain," Harper secured a lifetime record deal with Virgin Records, which released his debut album, "Welcome to the Cruel World" in 1994. Harper is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter with a voice and sound that covers multiple genres including the Blues, indie rock, folk, alternative rock, soul, funk rock, gospel, reggae, jam rock, and neofolk. Harper is most well known for the albums, Diamonds On The Inside, Burn One Down & Forever. Harper has won 3 Grammy Awards throughout his career including Best Blues Album in 2014, Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance, both in 2005. Harper has 13 studio albums up to now and over 30 songs and performances in films and on television shows and appearances. Harper has many collaborations over the years and shows no signs of slowing down.

Ben Harper was married to Golden Globe winning movie and television actress, Laura Dern, for 7 years, from 2005 to 2010. Harper began dating Laura Dern, the Big Little Lies actress in 2000. Harper and Laura Dern, who won a Golden Globe for her role in Big Little Lies have 2 children together, son Ellery Walker born in August of 2001 and daughter Jaya born in November of 2004. Laura Dern, Son of Bruce Dern is a very popular actress and Ben Harper is sometimes referred to as the ex husband of Laura Dern. Before meeting Laura Dern, Ben Harper married his first wife, Joanna in 1996. They also have two children together, son Charles, born in 1997 and daughter Harris, born in 2000. Harper and Joanna separated in 2000, and were divorced in 2001. Harper is a philanthropist and social activist, so it makes sense that Harper married his third wife, social advocate Jaclyn Matfus, on January 1, 2015. They are currently expecting their first child together.

Ben Harper is a skateboarder who has trained with Rodney Mullen, amongst many other greats. Harper also owns a warehouse for his personal skateboarding endeavors and activities. Harper also co-owns the skateboarding brand "Roller Horror" with professional skateboarder Mike York. The man behind great songs and albums like Diamonds On The Inside, Burn One Down and Forever has accumulated a net worth of $10 million dollars up to this point. Ben Harper is heavy into social activism and philanthropy and he puts his money where his mouth is. Harper has played several benefit concerts over the years, with one of the largest being an acoustic benefit concert on December 11th, 2016 he played at "Bimbos" in San Francisco supporting New Light India's "Boys Home Project," which was founded in 2000 by Urmi Basu. New Light India is an amazing organization that provides shelter, educational opportunities, recreational facilities, healthcare and legal aid for the girls and women in Kalighat, notorious for its red light district. Harper also supports Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit organization that works to restore and revitalize music education in disadvantaged U.S. public schools, a project, and cause that is near and dear to his heart. Harper donated items to their San Francisco Bay Area benefit concert in 2013. Ben Harper's cousin in Washington State Supreme Court, Justice Steven Gonzalez. Harper has been known to lend a voice and his talent to political events in the past, including the Vote for Change concert tour, which Harper participated in October of 2004. Harper also organized to benefit Moveon.org and encourage people in the swing states to vote during the 2004 U.S. presidential election. It's quite ironic to be known as the ex-husband of Laura Dern, or the ex-husband of anyone, for that matter. Harper has been at work since 1992, officially and in 25 years, he has made 13 studio albums, has contributed or played on over 30 televisions shows and before turning 50 years old, he has a net worth of $10 million dollars. Ben Harper is one of the most influential voices in music and in the world today, it is safe to say that we are lucky to have him.