What is the birth name of Tony Orr? WebBenjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. When you were around him, you couldnt help but feel good., Editors picks "Every artist I loved was on Elektra." Read Full Biography, Benjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes." Tony Orr's birth name is Anthony Benjamin Orr. Elektra waved a chequebook at them in 1978, and promptly sent them into the studio with producer Roy Thomas. Vocalist. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. The former besties and musical partners grew estranged after the Cars split up in 1988. Benjamin Orr died at the age of 53 on October 3, 2000. The two struck up a friendship and three years later, when both had moved to Columbus, Ohio, they formed their first (of several) bands together, ID Nirvana. 3 hit "Drive.". Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Its hard not to notice that (The Cars) Benjamin Orr is not here. "Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. Ric Ocasek's cause of death was revealed, and his estranged wife revealed details of his final day. Paulina also posted a photo of flowers people left outside Ocaseks townhouse. While superficially conforming to what Americans like to call "New Wave", complete with a sheen of technological hauteur and an aura of pop-art cool, the album bristled with catchy pop songs, mostly by Ocasek. "This is a new thing.' Ocasek and Orr continued working together in a series of bands, leading up to the Cars' public debut on New Year's Eve in 1977. He played bass, keyboards, and percussion Rhino will now be donating a portion of the profits to the National Pancreas Foundation. Orr died of pancreatic cancer at age 53 in 2000. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Bassist and singer Ben Orr was born Benjamin Orzechowski on September Its now been revealed that Ocasek died from cardiovascular disease specifically hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, also called atherosclerosis, which is an accumulation of plaque in the arteries that can weaken the hearts muscle. Around the same time, Orr embarked on a solo career and had a hit with "Stay the Night" from his album The Lace. During his teens, he learned to play guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion instruments. Benjamin Orr, singer and bassist with new wave hitmakers the Cars, succumbed to cancer at his home in Atlanta on Tuesday night. instruments in his teen years. At the age of 53, Benjamin Orr died from pancreatic cancer in his Atlanta, Georgia, home on October 3, 2000. Tweaking its sound and lineup weren't the only things Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, and other members of Cap'n Swing had to address as they went forward. Benjamin Orr He played bass, keyboards, and percussion Orr, who died Oct. Benjamin died on October 3, 2000, as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was hospitalized. The Cars had begun to lose momentum, though Orr showed he could function successfully on his own with his album The Lace (1986). His Russian and Czechoslovakian parents . The New Cars' poorly reviewed debut album It's Alive would also be their last album. Rock Musician Benjamin Orr Dies | AP News At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. Police say that Ocasek was found in his bed unconscious and unresponsive and that the call came in around 4 p.m. on September 15, 2019 for a male in need of aid inside a residence at East 19th Street. Sometime later, Ocasek invited the bassist/singer to come out to Boston because it had a good music scene. Benjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes." Then the long-dormant group took the stage to perform "My Best Friend's Girl," Ocasek taking over for the late Orr on vocals and Scott Shriner of Weezer (a band Ocasek produced) filling in on bass. GettyModel Paulina Porizkova and her husband musician Ric Ocasek attend the launch of Living It Up! Benjamin Orr The video became the first one placed in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection, and at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984 "You Might Think" won Video of the Year, somehow defeating Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller.". The Cars helped create one of the definitive sounds of the late 1970s and evolved into arguably the most '80s band of the '80s. He said that Orr was his hot sauce partner and related how they became close friends the time they played together. ATLANTA (AP) _ Benjamin Orr, the bass player of the popular 1980s group The Cars who also sang some of the bands most popular songs, died Tuesday of Orr died of pancreatic cancer on Oct. 3, 2000 at the age of 53, less than 6 months after his diagnosis and a week after his last performance. It revealed that Ocasek was recovering from a recent surgery and that Paulina realized he had passed away when she touched his cheek. And the Cars had a lot of hits, including "Just What I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Hello Again," "Drive," and "Tonight She Comes.". Benjamin Orr Jr Historical Fact Benjamin Orrs birthstone is Sapphire. ""Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. Getty 2011-09-08 04:27:11. He was only 53 years old. Benjamin Benjamin Orr would have been 53 years old at the time of death or 67 years old today. Benjamin Orr "We signed with Elekra," Ric Ocasek told the Wall Street Journal. But he wasn't the only Car who made some noise Benjamin Orr took lead vocals on seminal songs like "Just What I Needed," "Drive," and "Moving in Stereo." The cause was pancreatic Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. The first speaker, Chris Kamburoff, had played with Orr in Mixed Emotions, a band that preceded the Cars by several years, and he led the audience through the Our Father prayer after saying, Benjamin will live on.. Easton and Hawkes (but not Robinson, who dropped out of the project early on) hit the road in 2006 and 2007 as the New Cars. Tension after its 1988 breakup, sadness after the death of founding member Benjamin Orr in 2000, and an all-out war surrounding the birth of the New Cars in the 2000s all meant a real Cars reunion was highly unlikely. It was then I realized that during the night he had peacefully passed on. Meanwhile, The Cars bought Intermedia Studios in Boston, which they rechristened Syncro Sound. "Shortly after I joined," drummer David Robinson told the Wall Street Journal, "Ric wanted to change the band's name," because "Cap'n Swing sounded like the name of a bar band." It was believed that a venomous snake would die if placed in a vessel Furthermore, Ocasek liked the Cars because it fell at the beginning of the alphabet, which would earn the band good placement in record stores, and also that it was easy to spell. "Lawyers got involved. WebAside from the string of hits he enjoyed as a member of The Cars during the 1980s, Benjamin Orr, who has died aged 53, earned himself a fragment of rock'n'roll In 1994, in the year that Benjamin Orr Jr. was born, on May 6th, former political prisoner, lawyer, and activist Nelson Mandela was elected the first black President of South Africa. The Rock Hall was an appropriate locale for the tribute, as Orr, who was fifty-three when he passed away, started his musical career in Cleveland in the mid-Sixties, when he played with the Grasshoppers. When did Lawrence Orr die? The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after producing a string of top hits, some of the most memorable songs of the 1980s and in rock history. We miss him and love him dearly, Ocasek said from the stage. The musicians' old friend, Maxanne Sartori, enthusiastically played those two tracks on her afternoon radio show on Boston's WBCN, prompting a huge (and positive) listener response. And because WBCN was a commercial radio station, Saroti kept logs of the songs she played, which get send to music industry trade publications. WebDuring the summer of 2000, Orr reunited with the rest of the Cars to film the documentary Live, which was scheduled for release in November of that year by Rhino Home Video. "Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. He also recorded as a solo artist, releasing a single album, The Lace, in 1986, and scoring a Top 30 single in January of the following year with "Stay the Night.". The Cars broke up at the end of the '80s, only to reunite in the 2010s (without the deceased Orr) and play together one more time at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Orr was performing rigorously throughout the summer of the same year in different state fairs and music festivals. WebThe Lace is the only solo studio album by American rock and roll singer Benjamin Orr, best known for his work with The Cars.It was released on October 6, 1986, by Elektra Records and features his only solo hit, the song, "Stay the Night", which reached the top 40 in 1987.A follow-up single "Too Hot to Stop" was also released but failed to chart. WebFrom 1998 up until his death, Ben performed with his own band, "Orr", and the side bands, "Big People" and "the Voices of Classic Rock". Signing with Elektra/Asylum, their first album, The Cars, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, was released in May 1978. Bassist and singer Ben Orr was born Benjamin Orzechowski on September 8, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio. The surviving members reunited for a final album, Move Like Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When did Herbert Orr die? - Answers [asked if his illness--pancreatic cancer--would keep him from performing] If I fall down one day and can't get up, you will know it's over. Undeterred, the duo put together another group, Richard and the Rabbits, recruiting musician Greg Hawkes to play the keyboards, having liked the saxophone work he contributed to Milkwood's one and only record. Ric Ocasek, the former lead singer of the iconic new wave band The Cars, died from heart disease with emphysema as a contributing factor. In early 1976, Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr formed yet another band, a more straightforward pop-rock combo called Cap'n Swing. Ocasek was found dead in his Manhattan home on the afternoon of September 15, 2019, a Sunday, the New York Police Department confirmed to Heavy. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. In 2018, the group entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This manager proposed a Cars reunion on behalf of his clients, but Ocasek gave him a hard no. He also collaborated with 'The Cars' for their album, 'Door to Door'. Local punkistas gravitated to the city's Rat Club, where early performances by The Cars demonstrated that they were miles ahead of the competition in terms of professionalism and musicality. Just two months later, the band recorded a demo tape of its new songs, including early takes on what would become signature songs, "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed." Friends and Bandmates Pay Tribute to Ben Orr Rolling Stone We would love your help! did Benjamin Orr die Ben seemed very much at peace with the world, Dudas said about his last conversation with Orr, about a year ago. Cap'n Swing recorded some demos and played the Newport Street Music Fair, a showcase sponsored by popular local station WBCN, and caught the attention of afternoon disc jockey Maxanne Sartori who had previously helped launch the career of Aerosmith who helped solidify the group's lineup. Ben Orr had a son. ", Still, not every Car was happy. Thanks in advance to anybody who knows. instruments in his teen years. After relocating to Boston, Orr made his recording debut on the lone 1973 album by the trio Milkwood, which also featured Ocasek. The group donated their royalties to the Band Aid Trust. Known locally as "Benny 11-Letters", Orr Benjamin Orr died on October 3, 2000 at the age of 53. Orr, who died Oct. 3 of pancreatic cancer, never forgot his old bandmates, and they never forgot him. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. In his later stage of life, Orr was performing for his own band along with two other bands, named 'Voices Of Classic Rock' and 'Big People'.He was very well practiced and proficient with guitar, keyboards, drums, and other musical instruments. They also utilized the music video in a big way, producing entertaining and well-made clips for their many hit songs. Ben left The Cars in 1987. From 1998 up until his death, Ben performed with his own band, "Orr", and the side bands, "Big People" and "the Voices of Classic Rock". He reunited with The Cars for the documentary The Cars: Live (2000) in the summer of 2000. Orr died at age 53 from pancreatic cancer on October 3, 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia. Orr, born Benjamin Orzechowski in Cleveland, formed The Cars in Boston in 1976 with fellow Ohio native Ric Ocasek. He was 53. In 1989, the model and rock star got married, and they stayed together for nearly 30 years. Betathetapi545 ( talk) 21:50, 5 November 2021 (UTC) [ reply] In his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, he thanked his wheel-chaired grandmother for forcing him to sing at age 5 and for buying him the guitar from Sears and Roebuck, although he said she gave him the guitar when he was 14 years old. The musicians inched closer to the Cars and the Cars sound, particularly when they added recent Berklee College of Music graduate and Boston guitarist Elliot Easton to the mix. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Ex-Grasshoppers Dante Rossi and John Matuska also testified to the way Orr affected them. a half years in the Army. So, the musicians sat around and devised a list of possible band names. Though the net worth of Benjamin Orr was around $1 million, his annual income is still unknown. Sunburst label and dissolved in 1967 after two members were drafted. But it wasn't until 1976 that Orr and Ocasek formed The Cars, bringing in ex-Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson and Hawkes. WebHe died at home in Atlanta on October 3, 2000, aged 53, surrounded by his fellow Big People band members Jeff Carlisi, Derek St. Holmes and Rob Wilson. a half years in the Army. It must have cost a ton of money in legal fees that I wasted, the Cars wasted, for f*cking no reason." The song 'Stay The Night' was featured in the Top 40 hit list. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History He was 53. Orr had also reunited with his former Cars mates for a documentary titled, ``The Cars Live. Rhino Home Video plans to release the production in November with part of the proceeds going to the National Pancreas Foundation. After a while, Orr and the rest of the band headed to New York City in search of stardom. They started out New Wave, mixing pop craftsmanship with hard rock energy, then adding in synthesizers and smooth production. "I needed an attractive, exotic woman who has something fierce about her," Hutton said in I Want My MTV. According to Cars drummer David Robinson, the band's 1981 hit "Shake It Up" stewed for years before the group finally decided to record it. Thank you, she wrote. But it all paid off. Normally, I wouldn't feel comfortable to post personal things about his family but this is in the news. The previous April Benjamin had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and hospitalized. "I'm not proud of the lyrics to 'Shake It Up.'" This answer is: Fortunately, they worked out their differences while taping material for a Cars DVD in the late '90s. ", He had a tough time selling the band on that idea. He would have been elated to be here on this stage. Orr sang lead on "Drive" and "Just What I Needed.". Orr was working as a session musician and producer at a local studio. Benjamin Orr, the well-known bassist, was in a long-time relationship with Diane Grey Page, who was also a singer herself, and she was a co-writer of his album 'The Lace'. This new band became the Cars. Benjamin Orr (Massachusetts politician) - Wikipedia Nov 29, 2001 #3 embellisher Holy Ghost filled Bass Player Supporting Member Apr 18, 2000 Heber Springs, Arkansas Ben was IMHO a better vocalist than bassist, but that is not intended as a slight to his bass playing. Ocasek, of course, was the gangly singer and songwriter who helped propel The Cars to stardom. Orr had reunited with his former Cars bandmates -- Ocasek, Hawkes, Elliot Easton and David Robinson -- this past summer for an interview to be included. His death was ruled natural, and he had suffered cardiac arrest, according to NBC News. Kiss Paul Stanley Has 'Thoughts' About Parents Who Support Kids Gender Identities A post shared by Paulina Porizkova (@paulinaporizkov) on Sep 16, 2019 at 12:18pm PDT. Thats the word from the Medical Examiner in New York City, who has completed an autopsy on the iconic rocker, TMZ reports. He became interested in music as a teenager, listening to Buddy Holly & the Crickets. According to Orr's manager, another event is being planned to take place in Orr's hometown of Cleveland. According to his official website, Benjamin Orr died on October 3, 2000 from pancreatic cancer. Ocaseks full name was Richard Otcasek, and he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but he spent his formative teenage years in Cleveland, Ohio, and The Cars were founded in Boston. It feels quite strange to be up here without In 1979, Rolling Stone readers voted The Cars best new band, while their million-selling debut album was such a strong performer that its follow-up, Candy-O, was delayed for several months, then promptly sold 1m copies in eight weeks. In 1972, they were part of the folk trio Milkwood, and released an album on Paramount featuring future Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes. It was here that they recorded parts of their fourth million-seller, 1982's Shake It Up. The rise and fall of Cap'n Swing occurred entirely within the calendar year of 1976, an annum that closed out with Ric Ocasek and company playing its first gig as the Cars in December. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, All rights reserved. Sartori recommended Robinson because Cap'n Swing's first attempts to go national had failed. Donations to the Benjamin Orr Memorial Fund can be sent to at Box 600590, Newtonville, MA, 02460. The Baltimore Sun reported that Ocasek moved from Baltimore at age 16, and his father also served in the Air Force. Cars Co-Founder Orr Dead at 53 [asked if his illness--pancreatic cancer--would keep him from performing] If I fall down one day and can't get up, you will know it's over. When did Benjamin Orr die? It was followed into the Top 50 by Good Times Roll and My Best Friend's Girl. Music was always his first passion. Benjamin Orr died on October 3, 2000 at the age of 53. The Untold Truth Of The Cars - Grunge In 1970, Orr moved to Columbus, Ohio and met According to former Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes, Orr was surrounded by his friends when he passed away just before midnight (ET). The group performed its last gig on Sept. 27, in Alaska. Grasshoppers" were the house band on the local Cleveland TV music From that day on, he was like a brother to me, she said, adding that Ben loved her mothers cheesecake and spaghetti. WebBen Orr. The Cars were a band, but to the public, the Cars and Ric Ocasek were one and the same, probably because of his striking look or because he sang most of the bands' songs. Your privacy is important to us. He was 53. Benjamin Orr: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Sparks had obviously flown, although Porizkova later told Entertainment Weekly that she'd seen Ocasek on MTV before and it was "love before first sight." on a new DVD documentary, "The Cars Live," scheduled for release through Rhino Home Video on November 1. Page Six reports that Ocasek was found by the supermodel Porizkova, who is his estranged third wife. 16 Celebrities With Pancreatic Cancer - WebMD WebOrr died from pancreatic cancer. A management spokesperson for Ocasek spoke on behalf of the singer-guitarist, telling MTV News, "He's very devastated by the loss of a close friend. The group will now turn a planned March of Dimes benefit concert scheduled for this Friday at the Tabernacle in Atlanta into a memorial performance. Benjamin Orr (Orzechowski), musician, born August 9 1947; died October 3 2000, Rock musician who found fame with The Cars, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Benjamin Orr, singer and bassist with new wave hitmakers the Cars, succumbed to cancer at his home in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Orr sang lead on many of the group's biggest songs, including "Just What I Needed," "Let's Go," and the 1984 No. ATLANTA (AP) _ Benjamin Orr, the bass player of the popular 1980s group The Cars who also sang some of the bands most popular songs, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer. That group split when some members were drafted to Vietnam, though not before Orr had earned a reputation as a versatile musician who could sing or play drums, bass and guitar. Hutton was particularly taken with "Drive," a slick, romantic soft rock ballad that represented a departure for the power pop/New Wave band. Ben was the real rock star of the band, Hawke said. Ric Ocasek allowed Hutton to direct a video for the song, and one of the first things he did was call a casting director. An early demo of Just What I Needed had already been a favourite on Boston radio station WBCN, and now became the group's debut Top 30 hit. By the time 1977 was over, the Cars had signed a record deal and hit the road to build both hype and a fanbase. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? She thanked everyone who assisted her and talked mostly about her love for Orr, whom she had met just over a year ago. Benjamin Orr, a bassist, vocalist and founding member of the rock group the Cars, died on Tuesday in his home in Atlanta. The Cars disbanded in 1988. Here's a look under the hood of the Cars. In all that time I knew Ben, he and I never had an angry word for each other, he said. Wiki User. Ric Ocaseks Cause of Death & Last Moments Revealed, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. He had the look, and he had the attitude. When was Herbert Orr born? Benjamin Orr, 53, the bass player of the popular 1980s group The Cars who also sang some of the band's most popular songs, died of pancreatic cancer at his home here Oct. 3. Orr sang lead on "Drive" and "Just What I Needed." Ocasek later told Rolling Stone that while he and Orr were "the best of friends forever," by the end of the Cars' last tour in the late '80s, Orr had taken to traveling on his own bus, apart from the other band members and rarely exchanging words with Ocasek. 4. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. Orr His Russian and Czechoslovakian parents actively encouraged his musical endeavors. Robinson just really did not want to shake it up with "Shake It Up," but relented when the band decided to give it fresh ears and a total overhaul. Stein was inspired by a National Enquirer ad campaign that "had animated cutouts and photographs of celebrities, big heads on bodies that moved a little," he said in I Want My MTV. "It never sounded good," he said in Frozen Fire: The Story of the Cars. Benjamin Orr was born on September 8, 1947 and died on October 3, 2000. judith orr married to Benjamin orr? - Answers Heartbeat City, released in 1984, spawned another batch of hit singles including Drive. Orr took a lengthy sabbatical from the rock business. Benjamin Orr | | The Guardian And yet, in the early 2010s, it happened. Did Orr smoke? Benjamin Orr, the great bassist, had a net worth is $1 million. Subsequently he moved from Vermont to Atlanta, and joined a band of rock veterans called Big People. Orr died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Atlanta on October 3, 2000, at the age of 53. [16] [17] He had made his final public appearance six days earlier, performing with Big People in Anchorage, Alaska; bandmates Jeff Carlisi, Derek St. Holmes and Rob Wilson were at Orr's bedside when he died. [18] Later, the two played each other their original songs. dropped out of Valley Forge High School to join the group, "The "I've probably written some crap lyrics," Ric Ocasek told Vanity Fair. Recently, Orr had toured with the band Orr, as well as The Voices of Classic Rock and Atlanta-based group Big People. Orr also released a solo album in 1986 called "The Lace.". Feels Good!,' the British disco artist revels in liberation, MTV Announces The 2023 Movie & TV Awards Presenters And It's A Long List, Plus, the nominees for Best Musical Moment are revealed, Taylor Swift Hates Mercury Retrograde As Much As The Rest Of Us, The singer jokingly blamed a hand injury on the astrological event. Benjamin Orr died on October 3, 2000 at the age of 53. Ric Ocasek relocated with his family from Maryland to Cleveland, Ohio in the 1960s, and one night in 1965 he caught Benjamin Orr's band the Grasshoppers performing on the black-and-white musical showcase The Big 5 Show. Parma Heights, Ohio. Big People will dedicate Fridays performance in Atlanta to Orr. Praised by critics for balancing cool cynicism with impeccable pop instincts, the quintet sold over 6 million copies worldwide of it's first two albums, 1978's The Cars and the 1979 follow-up Candy-O.