Ben Tankard
He's been called "the Quincy Jones of Gospel," and besides being one of the best-selling instrumentalists in Christian music, keyboard player Ben Tankard has justified his tag, producing many stellar gospel projects as well as serving as an executive vice president at Tribute Records, for which he has recorded extensively. Born in Florida to a minister father and a missionary mother, he began playing drums in church at the age of three. He later graduated to tuba and was offered several music scholarships to college, though he eventually accepted a basketball scholarship instead.
Tankard endured a rough period of depression and homelessness when a knee injury prevented him from turning professional (though he was drafted by the NBA). A visit to a revival service put him on the right track and, almost overnight, he became a very talented keyboard/organ player. Tankard began his witness in song with 1990's Keynote Speaker, recorded for Tribute. He continued recording and soon moved into production and arranging as well, calling on his reserves of early musical training to provide impeccable jobs for Yolanda Adams, the Alabama State Mass Choir, and Michael Bruce.
His albums were often light jazz works, offering soothing, reflective gospel instrumentals that were similar to mainstream efforts from George Benson and Kenny G. In addition to his numerous solo albums, Tankard has earned a plethora of gold and platinum records via his production work, collaborating with a host of Grammy-winning artists including Take 6, Fred Hammond, Kelly Price, John P. Kee, Shirley Murdock, Twinkie Clark, and Gerald Albright. He issued the full-length Rise! in 2018.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Full Tank
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin' Universal Music on Jun 5, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Full Tank 2.0
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin' Universal Music on Feb 10, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shine!
Jazz - Released by Benjamin' Universal Music on Apr 2, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rise!
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin Universal Music on Sep 28, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Apr 23, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Get Quiet: The Smooth Jazz Experience
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Mar 26, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Full Tank 3: CanTANKerous
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin' Universal Music on May 12, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Love
Christmas Music - Released by Verity Records on Sep 25, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Prophet
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Jun 18, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Song of Solomon
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Jul 10, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Minstrel
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Jul 13, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Absolutely! (feat. Kyle Schroeder)
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin' Universal on Feb 12, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Play Me In Your Key
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Jun 4, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Git Yo Prayze On
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Aug 12, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Play A Lil' Song For Me
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Feb 18, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Instrumentally Yours
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Apr 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sunday Driving
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Sep 18, 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Godfather Collection
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin' Universal Music on Apr 2, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Keynote Speaker
Gospel - Released by Verity Records on Apr 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Thicker Than Water (The Church Picnic)
Jazz - Released by Ben-Jamin' Universal Music on Nov 5, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -