Vassal Benford
HIT PRODUCER/EXECUTIVE
Vassal Gradington Benford III is a American Music Mogul/ Film Producer/ Benford has stamped his indelible imprint on the music scene as one of the worlds top producers.
2017 Benford landed a platinum EDM pop hit with 2x Grammy Award winner DJ Diplo (Justin Bieber, Skrillex) song titled "Be Right There, also performed by superstar DJ's Marshmellow and Major Lazer generating over 1 billion internet streams.
Benford's productions has generated over $400 million in sales revenue for such companies as Universal, Sony, BMG, Warner Bros.
Benford was appointed by Music Mogul Clive Davis (Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Alisha Keys) Given a joint venture partnership (Vaz/Arista), signed his first multi platinum artist Debra Cox.
Davis also founded label imprints with superstar producers Sean 'P Diddy" Combs, L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmounds. The La-face duo released Toni Braxton's debut selling over 15x platinum. Benford's production with Toni Braxton received a Grammy Nomination for Best Vocal Performance.
Benford has garnered several awards including the ASCAP Top Pop songwriter of the year award, 13 film scores, 4 television syndication's, and 57 platinum records awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA Certified) Benford's introduction to the "fast track" of success started with music icons, Quincy Jones, Don Davis, Clarence Avant, and Universal Music Group record executive, Louil Silas Jr.
Benford's production has helped create platinum hits for superstar talents DJ Diplo, Major Lazer, Toni Braxton, NAS, Marshmellow, Flo Rida, Fat Joe & Remy Ma,Queen Latifah, Mariah Carey, Rick Ross, Deborah Cox, Sheryl Crow, U2, Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) Kool G-Rap, Bell Biv Devo, Jade, Bobby Brown, New Edition, The Baha Men , Lil Kim, Tisha Campbell, Erika Jayne, Patti Labelle, Faith Evans, Chanté Moore, Aaron Hall, Oleta Adams, London Beat, Surface, Lisa Stansfield, Trimaine Halkins, and The Fine Young Cannibals.
Benford has also scored and/or produced the soundtrack for a host of television and film titles including "Arnold Schwarzenegger "The Running Man", "New Jack City," Kid and Play "Class Act," Woppi Goldberg "The Associate," "Melrose Place," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Fame LA", and the "Keenan Wynn Show, Billy Bob Thornton "The Smell of Success", Hillary Duff, and Winona Ryder "Stay Cool".
During Benford's two year tenure as CEO of Vaz/Arista a label Imprint formed by Music Mogul Clive Davis. Benford was integral in launching the careers of two multi platinum recording acts, Deborah Cox performed the hit singles "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here." and "Who Do You Love"
Benford dominated the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts making music history with the hit single, "Don't Walk Away," performed by the female trio Jade, "Don't Walk Away" went on to become one of the hottest singles ever performed by a group or duo for the longest period of 39 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
Benford formed his second imprint distributed label, Vaz/Mercury with Danny Goldberg Chairman of Mercury Records. Benford was then appointed as Senior Vice President of Motown Records West Coast Division. After a two year tenure as VP, Benford was promoted and given yet another distributed label imprint, Vaz/Motown Records. Behind the success of Vaz/Motown Benford then teamed up with Mogul Danny Goldberg, formed a new distribution partnership with Artemis Records at Sony Music distribution. Artemis became the #1 independent label in the world with the mega hit, "Who Let The Dogs Out," performed by the band the Baha Men. The Baha Men are presently signed to Benford's record label.
2012 Benford conducted the original score for the movie "The Swan Princes" at the same time became first African American to completely score and voice direct an animated feature film for Sony Pictures. In 2013 Benford produced super star rapper Flo-Rida, 2014 Benford started out on a quest to score and executive produce the Iconic Superstar's biopic " The Marvin Gaye Story "Sexual Healing" directed by Julien Temple, starring Jesse L. Martin, from Law and Order. Benford's interest in film started while working with George Jackson and Doug McHenry, Producers and Directors of the block buster film "New Jack City." Due to Benford's classical background in music, "House Party 2" became Benford's first comedic film music score.
Benford re-signed with Universal/Capitol EMI Records Music Group in 2014. 2016 Benford produced and Orchestrated a sold out" Micheal Jackson Tribute" CES Convention Concert event for Monster Products. The show featured legendary acts The Jacksons, Aerosmith (Joe Perry), Rick Ross, Neyo,Christian Millian, hosted by Magic Johnson. 2016 -2017 Benford landed a major EDM hit with 2x Grammy Award winner DJ Diplo, Benford landed yet another hit record with "Fat Joe and Remy Ma" Titled "Money Showers" Featuring Ty Dolla $ign. 2018 Benford will Executive Produce ODB " The Rise Of The Wu Tan Clan" a feature film, Wu Tan Clan has been described as one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all-time.
Benford is presently Chairman/CEO of The Benford Company distributed by Universal with Mark Canton Partner/ film producer of the 2018 box office Blockbusters 300 "Den Of Thieves" "Immortals" and the hit TV show "Power". TBC capitalizes on Music, film, Innovative Technologies and Digital Media platforms. Vassal Gradington Benford III Ranked one of the most prolific producers in the entertainment industry today.
