Mike Benjamin

• Al Colombo - Violin
• Jack Furnari - Saxophone(s)

Though he has just joined this site last summer, Mike Benjamin has played solo piano in the East Tennessee area for over forty years at weddings, conventions, parties, anniversaries, concerts, fund-raisers, and many social events. He has played at local restaurants, including Santo's Italian Restaurant, Pigeon Forge, for over fifteen years, and Knoxville's Regas Restaurant (The Gathering Place), which features fine dining and dancing. He plays a wide variety of styles (jazz, swing, Broadway, pop, light classical, light rock) and is said to have an elegant touch. Numerous appearances with local groups such as the Knoxville Pops Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Brad Walker Orchestra, and Rosewood Trio have made Mike well known in the area. Mike also plays regularly at the Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church, and plays bassoon in the Oak Ridge and Kingsport Orchestras.

If your event requires more than just a piano player, Mike has played with many professional musicians in the area; two of his favorites are Jack Furnari on saxophone/clarinet in a jazz/swing setting and Al Colombo on violin. (Some duets with Al appear here in Mike's audio samples). Both exhibit the highest caliber of playing and have enjoyed a wonderful musical collaboration with Mike in duo situations.

Whatever your event needs, Mike will be glad to discuss them in a friendly, helpful manner. Particular songs and styles, length of job/sets plus possible overtime, required dress, extra equipment needs; these are some of the topics with which Mike will be assisting you via phone or email. Feel free to contact him about any concerns once you are provided the contact information from this site.

• (Our) Love is Here to Stay
• A Kiss to Build a Dream on
• A Quiet Place
• A Taste of Honey
• Ain't Misbehavin'
• All I Ask of You
• All of Me
• Always
• An Affair to Remember
• Arrivederci, Roma
• As Time Goes By
• Auld Land Syne
• Ave Maria - Shubert
• Baby Elephant Walk
• Back to Sorrento
• Bali Hai
• Be My Love
• Beautiful Dreamer
• Beauty and the Beast
• Because
• Besame Mucho
• Bill Bailey
• Blame it on my Youth
• Blue Bayou
• Blue Bossa
• Blue Moon
• Body and Soul
• Bye Bye Blackbird
• Canadian Sunset
• Canon in D
• Can't Help Falling in Love with You
• Carolina Moon
• Cartoon Medley
• Chances Are
• Chariots of Fire
• Claire de Lune
• Close to You
• Color My World
• Danny Boy
• Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?
• Don't Blame Me
• Don't Get Around Much Anymore
• Don't it Make Your Brown Eyes Blue
• Ebb Tide
• Embracable You
• Emily
• Fascination
• Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue
• For the Good Times
• For Your Eyes Only
• Fur Elise
• Georgia on My Mind
• Girl from Ipanema
• Great is Thy Faithfulness
• Greensleeves
• Happy Talk
• Happy Trails
• Harbor Lights
• Havah Nagilah
• Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?
• Hawaiian Wedding Song
• Heart and Soul
• I don't Know How to Love Him
• I Just Called to Say I Love You
• I'm in the Mood for Love
• In the Garden
• In the Mood
• It Had to Be You
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
• Killing Me Softly..
• Last Date
• Laura
• Let it Be
• Linus and Lucy (from Charlie Brown)
• Love Me Tender
• Memory (from Cats)
• Misty
• Moon River
• Moonlight Sonata
• Music Box Dancer
• Music of the Night
• My Funny Valentine
• Night and Day
• One Hand , One Heart (West Side Story)
• Over the Rainbow
• Patriotic Medley
• Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head
• Rocky Top
• 'Round Midnight
• Satin Doll
• Send in the Clowns
• Some Enchanted Evening
• Someone to Watch Over Me
• Somewhere (West Side Story)
• Somewhere in Time
• Somewhere, My Love
• Stompin' at the Savoy
• Tenderly
• That's Amore!
• The Entertainer
• The Lord's Prayer
• The Sunny Side of the Street
• The Wedding Song (There is Love)
• True Love
• Trumpet Voluntary
• TV Theme Medley
• Unforgettable
• Wave
• What a Wonderful World
• What the World Needs Now..
• What's New?
• When You Wish upon a Star
• Whole New World
• With a Little Help from my Friends
• Yesterday
• You are the Sunshine of my Life
• You Light of My Life
• You'll Never Walk Alone
• Younger than Springtime
• AND MANY MORE..

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Reunions, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Very pleased -- Jesse T, Birmingham, AL, 7/31/2010
• Very flexible and adjusted well to new developments during the ceremony and dinner. His ability and song selection was excellent. We had a few requests that he honored but he did an outstanding job of selecting additional music for the dinner. He talent is amazing and he drove all the way from Knoxville and was still very affordable. We certainly didn't have to pay extra for his drive but it would have been worth it! Very pleased with the entire performance. -- Scott M, Lexington, KY, 10/22/2011
• Absolutely wonderful experience. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us and our guest on our wedding day. -- Andrea P, Adairsville, GA, 10/30/2011

Click here for more feedback