In late 2004 Ed Bentley was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame after having been away from the music scene for over 20 years. Running a sucessfull Insurance business was a nice secure life but there was always that feeling,"somethings missing". That "something" was performing and writing country songs. Ed's induction was the needed spark, and before long he sold the Insurance business, grabbed his guitar and jumped right back into music with both feet. He started making frequent trips to Nashville, renewing old aquaintances, co writing with some great writers, opened a publishing company and finally started recorded again.Ed's latest being "Who Needs Jamaica", features some of the songs he has written or cowritten over the last two years.
Ed Bentley
CD Review - By Bob Silvestri
Ed Bentley-"Who Needs Jamaica"
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
The year 2008 saw big things for rockabilly king Ed Bentley. The release of his new CD Who Needs Jamaica?, his long overdue induction into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and a killer performance of his new hit "Buffalo Man" at this year's Hall of Fame induction gala that brought down the house. His new CD the previously mentioned Who Needs Jamaica? was recorded in Nashville this time and features eleven tracks written or co written by Bentley. His smooth style would suit fans of everyone from Jimmy Buffet to Carl Perkins to George Jones and more. The standouts here include "Watching Tilly Dance", "Common Ground", the ballad "The Next Me", the title cut "Who Needs Jamaica?", "Life Comes at You" and the Texas swing number "Hank & The Boys". The center piece of the disc is the track "Buffalo Man" one of the best pieces of music ever written about the Queen City. In an almost country/rap delivery Bentley sums of the life and times of every Buffalo musician and for that matter any Buffalonian. It has an enjoyably easy laid back feel that appeals to all ages and genre of music lovers. There are actually two versions of the song available, one on this disc and another version with slightly different lyrics issued as a radio promo that is destined to be a collector's item. If the saying is true that things get better with age Ed Bentley is just hitting his stride. Check out www.edbentleymusic.com to find out more about this treasured Western New York musician.