Ben Watt

Ben Watt
Ben Watt by Edward Bishop
Background information
Birth name	Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt
Born	(1962-12-06) 6 December 1962 (age 54) Marylebone, London, England
Origin	Barnes, London, England
Genres	Alternative rock new wave house electronica folk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician singer-songwriter DJ author producer remixer record label owner radio presenter
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards synthesizer piano organ turntable programming
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Cherry Red Blanco y Negro Sire Warner Bros. Atlantic Virgin Buzzin' Fly Strange Feeling
Associated acts	Everything but the Girl
Website	benwatt.com

Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt (born 6 December 1962) is a British musician, singer, songwriter, author, DJ and radio presenter, best known as one half of the duo Everything but the Girl.

Watt was born in Marylebone, London and grew up in Barnes, the son of Scottish jazz musician Tommy Watt and showbusiness writer Romany Bain. He has four older half brothers and sisters.

Watt began recording in 1981 on the indie label Cherry Red. His first single 'Cant' was produced by folk-maverick Kevin Coyne. His second release, 1982's 5-track EP 'Summer into Winter' featured Robert Wyatt on backing vocals and piano. His debut album North Marine Drive was released in 1983 and reached UK Independent Album Charts Top 10. He then put his solo career on hold and joined forces with vocalist Tracey Thorn, with whom he wrote and recorded for 17 years—together they created nine studio albums as Everything but the Girl (EBTG) after signing to Blanco Y Negro through Warners in 1984, and then Virgin in 1995. EBTG have received eight gold, and one platinum album BPI Certifications in the UK, and one gold album RIAA Certification in the US. The song "Missing" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.

Following EBTG's self-imposed hiatus in 2000, Watt immersed himself in the world of underground electronic music both as a DJ and recording artist/producer. His recorded output during this period includes club tracks such as "Lone Cat (Holding On)", "A Stronger Man" featuring Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D'Arby), the "Outspoken EP Part 1" including "Pop A Cap in Yo' Ass" featuring Estelle, "Just a Blip" and "Guinea Pig".