Career Timeline of Ben Folds: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ben Folds made an impact.
Ben Folds is an American singer-songwriter and pianist, best known as the frontman of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. The band was active from 1993 to 2000, and again from 2011-2013. Since the band's original breakup, Folds has pursued a successful solo career, releasing multiple albums and collaborating with a diverse range of artists, including Regina Spektor and William Shatner. Folds served as the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., from 2019 to 2025. His work spans pop, rock, and experimental compositions.
1988: Formation of Majosha and First Gig
In 1988, Ben Folds formed the band Majosha and they played their first gig at Duke University's Battle of the Bands and won. They also self-produced an EP called 'Party Night: Five Songs About Jesus'.
1989: Recording of 'Shut Up and Listen to Majosha'
In 1989, Majosha recorded the album 'Shut Up and Listen to Majosha', containing tracks from their earlier EP and other songs.
1990: Move to Nashville to Pursue Music Publishing Deal
In 1990, Ben Folds moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a music publishing deal with Scott Siman, also playing drums for Power Bill.
1993: Acting in Theater Troupes and Playing at Sin-é
Around 1993, Ben Folds moved to Montclair, New Jersey, acted in theater troupes in New York City and played weekly gigs at Sin-é.
1993: Frontman of Ben Folds Five
In 1993, Ben Folds became the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock trio Ben Folds Five.
1994: Formation of Ben Folds Five
In 1994, Ben Folds formed Ben Folds Five in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee.
1996: "Underground" popularity
In 1996, Ben Folds Five gained a strong following in the United Kingdom and Australia. Also in 1996, the song Underground came in at no. 3 on the Triple J Hottest 100 poll
1998: Success of 'Brick' and 'Whatever and Ever Amen' in Australia
In 1998, the single 'Brick' became Ben Folds Five's major chart placing in Australia, reaching no. 13, and the album 'Whatever and Ever Amen' peaked at no. 9 and charted for 32 weeks.
2000: Ben Folds Five Initial Breakup
In 2000, Ben Folds Five initially broke up.
2002: Leasing RCA Studio A
In 2002, Ben Folds leased RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee.
October 2006: Planning Next Studio Album
In October 2006, Ben Folds announced his plans to work on his next studio album.
October 24, 2006: Release of 'Supersunnyspeedgraphic' and Live Webcast
On October 24, 2006, Ben Folds released 'Supersunnyspeedgraphic' and became the first person to webcast a live-by-request concert over MySpace.
April 11, 2008: Announcement of new album at Richmond Concert
On April 11, 2008, Ben Folds announced that he had completed his newest album and played four tracks from it during a concert at the National Theatre in Richmond, Virginia.
September 18, 2008: Ben Folds Five Reunion Concert
On September 18, 2008, Ben Folds Five reunited to perform its first concert appearance in nearly 10 years, as part of MySpace's "Front to Back" series playing 'The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner'.
2008: Production of 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer'
In 2008, Ben Folds produced Amanda Palmer's debut solo album, 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer'.
April 28, 2009: Release of 'University A Cappella!'
On April 28, 2009, Ben Folds released 'Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!', an album featuring college students' a cappella arrangements of his music.
December 2009: Judging on The Sing-Off
In December 2009, Ben Folds began his role as a judge on NBC's a cappella competition, The Sing-Off, alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Shawn Stockman.
2009: Judge on 'The Sing-Off'
From 2009, Ben Folds was a judge on the NBC a cappella singing contest 'The Sing-Off'.
December 2010: Returning to The Sing-Off
In December 2010, Ben Folds returned for the second season of The Sing-Off.
September 2011: Third Season of The Sing-Off
In September 2011, Ben Folds judged the third season of The Sing-Off, alongside Shawn Stockman and Sara Bareilles.
December 2013: Fourth Season of The Sing-Off
In December 2013, Ben Folds appeared in the fourth season of The Sing-Off with Shawn Stockman and Jewel.
2013: Ben Folds Five Final Breakup
In 2013, Ben Folds Five broke up again.
2013: Cameo in We're the Millers
In 2013, Ben Folds made a cameo appearance in the film We're the Millers, portraying himself as a piano teacher, although the scene was cut from the theatrical release.
2013: End of judging tenure on 'The Sing-Off'
In 2013, Ben Folds' judging tenure on 'The Sing-Off' ended.
January 2014: Appearance on Community
In January 2014, Ben Folds made an appearance on the TV show Community as Professor Bublitz and contributed the song "Ass Crack Bandit".
2014: Preservation efforts for RCA Studio A
In 2014, Ben Folds was pivotal in the preservation of RCA Studio A during its developer controversy, contributing to the creation of the Music Industry Coalition.
May 2017: Artistic Advisor to National Symphony Orchestra
In May 2017, Ben Folds began his role as the first artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
June 2019: Launching ArtsVote 2020 Podcast
In June 2019, Ben Folds launched a podcast titled ArtsVote 2020 with Ben Folds, aiming to engage 2020 United States presidential election candidates in conversations about arts and arts education.
July 2019: Publication of 'A Dream About Lightning Bugs'
In July 2019, Ben Folds published his first book, a memoir titled 'A Dream About Lightning Bugs'.
2019: Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra
In 2019, Ben Folds became the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
2020: Aimed conversations with presidential candidates
Ben Fold's podcast, ArtsVote 2020 with Ben Folds, launched in June 2019, had the stated goal of getting every candidate in the 2020 United States presidential election to have "a one-on-one, 30-minute conversation with Ben Folds about their personal background in the arts and arts education, their observations and previous policy efforts to transform through the arts the communities and states that they represent, and their vision for advancing support for the arts and the charitable sector in the future.
April 2021: Launching Lightning Bugs Podcast
In April 2021, Ben Folds launched a podcast titled Lightning Bugs where he discusses creativity with guests and writes a song with them.
2022: Appearance on The Wilds
In 2022, Ben Folds appeared as himself in three episodes of the second season of Prime Video's drama series The Wilds.
February 12, 2025: Resignation from National Symphony Orchestra
On February 12, 2025, Ben Folds resigned as artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra after President Donald Trump's announcement regarding the Kennedy Center board of trustees.
2025: End of Tenure as Artistic Advisor
In 2025, Ben Folds' tenure as the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. concluded.
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