Ben Folds (born 1966, Greensboro, North Carolina) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist who rose to prominence as the frontman of the guitar-free piano trio Ben Folds Five, whose 1997 hit "Brick" became an alternative radio staple. His solo career spans six studio albums and extensive collaborations with symphony orchestras worldwide; he served for eight years as the first-ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., resigning in February 2025. An Emmy-nominated composer and New York Times bestselling author, Folds is equally at home in intimate solo piano shows and full orchestral settings.
Ben Folds released 'Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra', recorded at the Kennedy Center in October 2024, which debuted at the top of the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts.
Folds resigned as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center on February 12, 2025, one minute after President Trump's administrative takeover of the institution took effect.
Ben Folds announced a European leg of his Paper Airplane Request Tour for November-December 2026, with dates in Dublin, Glasgow, Gateshead, Brighton, London, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö, and Stockholm.
Ben Folds released 'Sleigher', his first-ever holiday album, on October 25, 2024, via New West Records.
'What Matters Most', Folds' 2023 solo album, peaked at #13 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
Ben Folds brings the Paper Airplane Request Tour 2026 to Berlin, performing his greatest hits.
Ben Folds brings his Paper Airplane Request Tour 2026 to Hamburg, performing his greatest hits.