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Benjamin Burnley
Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV (born March 10, 1978) is an American musician, composer, and producer, best known as the founder and front man of the rock band Breaking Benjamin. As the sole constant of the group, Burnley has served as its principal songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist since its inception in 1999. Since signing with Hollywood Records in 2002, Burnley has released five studio albums under the name Breaking Benjamin, yielding two platinum records, one gold record, and 7 million unit sales in the United States. Outside of Breaking Benjamin, Burnley has also collaborated with acts such as Adam Gontier and Red.

Early life
Benjamin Burnley was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was raised in Ocean City, New Jersey. His mother is Sydnee Burnley, the sister of Benjamin Jackson Burnley III, for whom the singer is named. At age 12, Burnley moved to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania due to an increase in taxes. Burnley "wasn't really into music" during this time, saying, "I'd just see Twisted Sister and all that eighties shit ... I couldn't even fathom why people got into bands." However, Burnley was eventually introduced to Nirvana, saying, "That band opened my mind completely." At age 14, Burnley began teaching himself how to play guitar by listening to Nirvana's Nevermind. He credits them as helping him emotionally as a kid, and the "one and only band" responsible for his career.

Musical career
Burnley first started a band named Breaking Benjamin in 1998, though that band was "nothing like" subsequent lineups, and played "softer music". Burnley coined the eponymous band name after an incident in which he broke a borrowed microphone, prompting its owner to retort, "Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fucking mic." This band eventually broke up when Burnley moved to California. After returning to Pennsylvania, Burnley formed Plan 9 with drummer Jeremy Hummel and bassist Jason Davoli. Eventually the band reclaimed the name Breaking Benjamin from Burnley's previous band.

Breaking Benjamin first gained attention when local DJ Freddie Fabbri put the group's track "Polyamorous" in rotation. He eventually financed the recording of the group's Breaking Benjamin (EP), which sold all 2,000 copies that were printed in 2001. Jonathan "Bug" Price was credited on bass, replacing Davoli. Eventually high school friends and previous band mates guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski joined Breaking Benjamin from the Universal-signed Lifer. In early 2002, over a dozen record companies visited a two-night showcase where Breaking Benjamin was playing, and the group subsequently signed with Hollywood Records. The band's first studio album Saturate was released in 2002 and they subsequently toured as a supporting act for Godsmack.

Breaking Benjamin proceeded to release critically-acclaimed and commercially successful albums, working for three consecutive albums with producer David Bendeth, including We Are Not Alone (2004), Phobia (2006), and Dear Agony (2009). They also toured with acts such as Three Days Grace, Evanescence, Seether, Nickelback, Shinedown, and many others.