Scott: Who/what were your influences early in your growth as a musician? Ben: I like "big band" music. I like Tony Bennet, I like Ella Fitzgerald, all R&B and as far as pop music, I like Stevie Wonder. I learned a lot from listening to his approach to singing and writing. "Big band" music drew me in because of the excitement of it all.
				Ben and the love of his life, Josie!
	Scott: What was the first band you were in? Ben: Hmmm (thinking). I played for a group called "the Signs of Love". (laugh) That was in the ninth grade at the time. That comprised of myself, Greg Sardinha who played steel guitar on "Puanani" and "Lilinoe". He played Bass and Keyboards. And another guy played drums. We were like the palolo valley "Cream". Greg is like my best friend still to this day.

	Scott: In the Mid eighties you were in the hit band the Krush How did you get involved with them? Ben: That happened right around the time I came home from living in the mainland. I got home and decided to hang up my guitar and stop playing music. I went through a lot of change in my life during my stay in the mainland. One day while I was living in L.A., I just decided I gotta get out of here. I was killing myself... so I just decided to leave. I came home and cut off all of my guitar strings on my instruments and put them away. I stopped playing for almost a year. And one day, Jesse, who was from the Krush, called me up and asked if I was interested in playing with them since they needed another guy in the band. At the time I wasn't really interested. But, I went and auditioned with them, and we talked and had a good time. But that was the end of it. They were on their way to Canada. During this same period, I was working in this off the wall University of Hawai'i play. It was a very strange kind of music for a play, kinda a cross between Greek and Jazz music (laugh). So I was working on this play and I got a call from Canada. It was the Krush and they wanted me to fly up there to play with them. So I packed up and flew up there in 1982. I remember it well because I left a beautiful 80 degrees to go to a place where it was about 20 - 30 degrees! (laugh) I stayed with them till 1984. It wasn't really my thing, but I don't regret it. I learned a lot! Scott: What did you do after that? Ben: After that I played nightclubs, and small gigs. I got a job on the Windjammer. I was the entertainment director for them. I did the sunset cruises and some parties and luaus. I also played at Nick's Fish market and Nicholas Nicklas.

In 1994, the group 5:05 came out with a CD called Stay Awake. The groups natural blend of pop rock, acoustic and electric sounds drove this album up the KCCN FM 100 charts. It also gave Hawai'i audiences hit songs like "I Wanna be her Man", "Tropical Beauty" and the 5:05 favorite "Puanani". The group featured Ben on vocals and guitar, Johnny Kamai on lead guitar and vocals, Blaise Sison on bass guitar, Rod Esteban on Drums and Lester Gantan on keyboards. The group disbanded in mid 1996 and reformed minus Lester Gantan as Brother to Brother, Ben's current group. This time of Ben's life was a very important one for him because not only did it bring his voice into the spotlight of Hawaii music, but it also taught him a lot about life.

			Scott: How did the band 5:05 start? Ben: I met Lester Gantan in 1993-94. He was interested in starting a band with some musicians that were some what established to do an album. So we got together and did some recording. It gave me a chance to do some writing. The style of the band was going to be light rock. So basically we got together and created 5:05, which was five guys from the fiftieth state. Scott: What is your favorite song off that album? Ben: Lyrically I would say "Somebody's Watching". As far as music, I like "Stay Awake". It's got that rock ballad feel... kinda like the band Extreme. As far as lyrics, I like lyrics with a message and not so much of that "ooo baby, baby" stuff. I like having something with a message... something positive or encouraging. Scott: The band was very successful with only one album. What happened to 5:05? Ben: We had a parting of ways. It was a lesson in life and it really showed me a lot about the business. The group is still together but without Lester. We are called Brother to Brother. Each musician in this band is so good. I think our strength is not so much when recording in the studio but when we play live. You can really see the ability of the band, the dynamics... sometimes when I am up there playing with them I think "Wow! This is great! I can't believe I am playing with these guys!" It's great because we really enjoy playing with each other. I think the name Brother to Brother is really indicative of how we really feel about each other... we really are like brothers. It's great to play with such talented people.