Ben Mills

Ben Mills

Ben Mills is a British singer songwriter from the United Kingdom, born in 1980 in Chatham, Kent. He is also known as Benjamin Collett Mills. His work sits in pop and chart music, with an easy listening tag also attached to him.

Career

He comes to wider attention as a contestant on the third UK series of Ben Mills TV talent show The X Factor in 2006, where he finishes in third place. During the series he is mentored by Sharon Osbourne, and his audition song is Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me”. Simon Cowell compares his voice to a young Joe Cocker.

Before appearing on the show, he works as a co-director of a marquee hire company in Whitstable and has a diploma in music from the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. He has sung since childhood and plays piano and guitar. He also performs as a keyboard player in the Doors tribute band The L.A. Doors and tours the pub and club circuit with his own band, Benzego.

Recordings and releases

After The X Factor, he signs a five-album deal with Sony BMG. His debut album, Picture of You, is released in 2007. The intended debut single, “Beside You”, is advertised for release but is withdrawn by the label so attention can stay on album sales. His second album, Freedom, follows in 2010.

Other performances and influences

His listed influences include Joe Cocker, Tom Waits, Rod Stewart and David Bowie. He also appears with Sir Bob Geldof at the switching-on of Christmas lights in Margate, Kent, and sings Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” to a crowd there. In 2009 he performs at Pontins Holiday Camp in Prestatyn, Wales.