Ben Sollee

Musician · b. 1983 · Lexington, Kentucky · bensollee.com

Ben Sollee is a Lexington, Kentucky cellist and singer-songwriter who blends folk, bluegrass, jazz, and R&B, treating the cello as a lead and rhythm instrument well beyond its classical role. He is known equally for his genre-crossing songwriting, his environmental activism, and his bicycle-powered tours.

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  • Born November 28, 1983, in Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Built a style incorporating banjo, guitar, and percussive cello techniques.
  • A member of the Sparrow Quartet with Abigail Washburn, Béla Fleck, and Casey Driessen.
  • Released solo albums including Learning to Bend (2008) and the collaboration Dear Companion (2010) with Daniel Martin Moore.
  • Tours by bicycle as a sustainability advocate, including a ride to the Bonnaroo festival.
  • Composes for film, theater, and dance.

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