Available to book from $2000 (USD). For an accurate quote please make an enquiry.
********NOW BOOKING FOR 2026********
BENNIE J. and BENNIE J. & FRIENDS BAND are NOW BOOKING performance dates at various venues for various entertainment and cultural arts events.
The Danville-Lexington, KY native is a Saxophonist and Vocalist currently based in THE DERBY CITY of Louisville, KY.
He and his Bandmates will provide you and your patrons with the best quality, professional "live" entertainment and cultural arts experience for your next event, including but not limited to the following:
CONCERTS, CLUBS, GALAS, PUBLIC and PRIVATE CORPORATE AFFAIRS, BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS, WEDDING RECEPTIONS, CHURCH & INSPIRATIONAL PROGRAMS, PROMS, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS, COLLEGE SPORTING & CULTURAL ARTS EVENTS, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT EVENTS and FUNDRAISERS, etc.
BENNIE J. had the BLESSED opportunities to share the billing with National Recording Artists such as: SURFACE * ROME * KEITH WASHINGTON * GLENN JONES * MIDNIGHT STAR * S.O.S. BAND * DAZZ BAND * ROGER TROUTMAN & ZAPP with SHIRLEY MURDOCK * ZAPP with LESTER TROUTMAN * SLAVE * WENDELL B * BAR-KAYS * READY FOR THE WORLD * CHOCOLATE MILK BAND * INSTANT FUNK BAND * THE DEELE * BOBBI HUMPHREY * CHANGING FACES * ALEXANDER O'NEAL * BRIAN O'NEAL * MORRIS DAY & THE TIME * NORMAN CONNORS * ROY AYERS * NAJEE * KENANYAH ISRAEL fka BAMM DAVIS * MIKE PHILLIPS * CINDY BRADLEY * BOB BALDWIN * JEFF BRADSHAW * NICK COLIONNE * MARION MEADOWS * and THE URBAN JAZZ COALITION
OUR REPERTOIRE COVERS FUNK, R&B, SMOOTH SOULJAZZ, INSPIRATIONAL CONTEMPORARY, ORIGINALS and MOTOWN
UPCOMING PERFORMANCE DATES FOR 2026
MOST SUNDAYS and SOME SATURDAYS at THE ALL-NEW DADDY VIC'S SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT & BAR located at 4404 DIXIE HIGHWAY LOUISVILLE, KY 40216 * 1:30P - 4:30P *****DINE IN OR CARRY OUT****
FRI MAY 1, 2026 - 2nd ANNUAL PRE-KENTUCKY DERBY GALA SPONSORED by THE NORRIS & TERETHA BECKLEY FOUNDATION at SHELBYVILLE CONFERENCE and WELCOME CENTER 219 7th STREET SHELBYVILLE, KY 40065 * TIX ON SALE NOW
SUN MAY 3, 2026 - 35th ANNUAL JAZZ ON BROADWAY AFFAIR at THE YEARLINGS CLUB 4309 W. BROADWAY LOUISVILLE, KY * 4P - 7P * TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FRI MAY 8, 2026 - KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY ANNUAL ALUMNI DINNER & AWARDS at KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTER BALLROOM 400 E. MAIN STREET FRANKFORT, KY 40601 * TICKETS ON SALE NOW
SATURDAY MAY 9, 2026 - MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH at NICKEL EVENTS VENUE 426 SPRING STREET JEFFERSONVILLE, IN * 11A - 2P * A LET'S CELEBRATE LLC EVENT
SUN MAY 10, 2026 - MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION at LUXURY VENUE 160 MOORE DRIVE LEXINGTON, KY * 4P - 7P * TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FRI MAY 15, 2026 - SPECIAL SURPRISE EVENT in LOUISVILLE, KY * DETAILS TBA
SAT MAY 16, 2026 - 3RD ANNUAL INDEPENDENT ARTIST SUMMIT SPONSORED BY WQSL I-RADIO in WALDORF, MD * 2P - 8P * REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
SAT MAY 30, 2026 - WEDDING and RECEPTION for DERRICK and MERCEDES STRINGER at GREATER GALILEE CHURCH * DETAILS TBA
SUN MAY 31, 2026 - SWAHILI ELKS LODGE #1611 I.B.O.P.E. of the WORLD CONVENTION and YOUTH DEPARTMENTS proudly presents "AN EVENING OF JAZZ and R&B with BENNIE J." 1203 Versailles Road LEXINGTON, KY * 6P - 9P * $10 DONATION REQUESTED
SAT JUNE 6 - ANNIE SANDERS' FAMILY REUNION * 7:30P - 9P * DETAILS TBA
SAT JUNE 13, 2026 - WESTERN KENTUCKY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL 59TH REUNION at HILTON in LOUISVILLE, KY * 6P - 10P
SUN JUNE 14, 2026 - GUEST APPEARANCE at MORNING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH for A&B SELECTIONS in RADCLIFF, KY * 11A
SUN JUNE 14, 2026 - KINGS AMONGST US PRE FATHER'S DAY CELEBRATION 1300 W. MUHAMMAD ALI BOULEVARD LOUISVILLE, KY * 5P - 9P * OPEN TO THE PUBLIC * TICKETS AVAILABLE ON EVENTBRITE
FRI JUNE 19, 2026 - VALHALLA POST ACUTE "1st ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION" 300 SHELBY STATION DRIVE in Louisville, KY with BENNIE J. & FRIENDS with GUEST SPEAKER LAMONT COLLINS of ROOTS 101 MUSEUM * DETAILS TBA
FRI JUNE 19, 2026 - DEBUT at THE BAY CIGAR LOUNGE * THE JUNETEENTH EDITION * 901 EASTERN BOULEVARD CLARKSVILLE. IN * 8P - 10P
SAT JUNE 20, 2026 - APPEARANCE AT THE ANNUAL SOULFEAST CELEBRATION at GRATTON PARK in LEXINGTON, KY * 3P - 4P * DETAILS TBA
SAT JUNE 20, 2026 - HARRODSBURG JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION in HARRODSBURG, KY * 5P - 7P
FRI JUNE 26, 2026 - BACK PORCH FRIDAY SERIES at VITALITY LIVING at SAINT MATTHEWS 120 HUBBARDS LANE LOUISVILLE, KY * 3P - 5P * RSVP CANDICE 502.896.1759
FRI JULY 3, 2026 - APPEARANCE BACK at THE KENTUCKY HUG BOURBON BAR and MUSIC EMPORIUM 325 ST. CLAIRE STREET FRANKFORT, KY * NO COVER
SAT JULY 4, 2026 - WLOU FM JAMZ presents "4th of JULY FUNKFEST" with FREDDIE JACKSON at SHELBY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS in SHELBYVILLE, KY * GATES OPEN AT 12 NOON - 9P * BRING YOUR LOUNGE CHAIRS
FRI JULY 11, 2026 - SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY for TONYA LEE CURTIS in TROY, OH - 7P - 10P * (INVITATION ONLY)
FRI JULY 24 - SUN JULY 26, 2026 * CINCINNATI MUSIC FEST in CINCINNATI, OH * ENJOYING THE FESTIVITIES
SAT AUG 1, 2026 - PERFORMANCE at ANNUAL SMITHTOWN DAY CELEBRATION at COOLAVIN PARK in LEXINGTON, KY * 5P - 8P
SUN AUG 2, 2026 - SURPRISE EVENT in LOUISVILLE, KY * DETAILS TBA
FRI AUGUST 7, 2026 - BIRTHDAY PARTY for GREATER GALILEE CHURCH FIRST LADY JAN JOHNSON * THE BISCUIT LOUNGE 120 S. 10TH STREET LOUISVILLE, KY (INVITATION ONLY)
FRI AUGUST 14, 2026 - EAST END EVENING CONCERT SERIES at CHARLES YOUNG PARK in LEXINGTON, KY * 6P - 8P * FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SAT AUG 15, 2026 - KSU CLASS OF 1986 FUNDRAISER in LOUISVILLE, KY * DETAILS TBA
SUN AUG 23, 2026 - CELEBRATION of L.A. WRIGHT'S GRANDMOTHER'S 99TH BIRTHDAY PARTY * 2P - 6P * DETAILS TBA
SUN AUG 23, 2026 - "JAZZ and R&B FESTIVAL IN CENTRAL PARK" with I-HEART RADIO and TS ELLIOTT PRODUCTIONS * 5P - 9P * DETAILS TBA
THUR AUG 27 - 29, 2026 - ANNUAL KICKOFF BUTTERMILK DAYS FESTIVAL in BARDSTOWN, KY * DETAILS TBA
SAT AUG 29, 2026 - LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1976 50th REUNION at MARRIOTT at GRIFFIN GATE 1800 NEWTOWN PIKE LEXINGTON, KY 40511 * 6P - 11:30P
SAT SEPT 5, 2026 - BIRTHDAY RETIREMENT PARTY for DONNA THURMAN at MEMORIES EVENT CENTER in FRANKFORT, KY * 5P - UNTIL
SUN SEPT 6, 2026 - WEDDING RECEPTION in ATLANTA, GA * DETAILS TBA
SAT SEPT 12, 2026 - JAZZ IN ALGONQUIN PARK * 12 NOON - 7P * MORE DETAILS TBA
FRI SEPT 25 - SUN SEPT 27, 2026 * ANNUAL HAM DAYS FESTIVAL in LEBANON, KY * DETAILS TBA
THUR OCT 9 - SUN OCT 12 - KSU 140th HOMECOMING CELEBRATION FRANKFORT and LEXINGTON, KY * DETAILS TBA
FRI OCT 23, 2026 - UK CURCI's CATS 50th REUNION CELEBRATION in LEXINGTON, KY * DETAILS TBA
SAT OCT 24, 2026 - JOHN FOGLE's 70's THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTY at KOSAIR EVENT CENTER in LOUISVILLE, KY * 9P - 1A * DETAILS TBA
SAT NOV 14, 2026 - 70th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION for DONNA WILLIAMS at MEMORIES EVENT CENTER in FRANKFORT, KY * DETAILS TBA
SAT DEC 5, 2026 - HEALTH MINISTRY BRUNCH at THE SHOW ROOM in DANVILLE, KY * 11A - 2P * DETAILS TBA
SAT DEC 12, 2026 - LARRY PARKS HOLIDAY SMOOTH SOULJAZZ and R&B PARTY with BENNIE J. in LEXINGTON, KY * 7P - 11P * DETAILS TBA
(OTHER PERFORMANCE DATES PENDING CONFIRMATION)
"BRINGING LOVE PEACE AND JOYOUS VIBES TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!!!" - BENNY J.
MOTTO: "HAVE GIG...WILL TRAVEL!!!"
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
Our repertoire covers:
SMOOTH JAZZ
R&B
FUNK
TOP 40
BLUES
MOTOWN
ORIGINALS
GOSPEL & INSPIRATIONAL
TBD
OPENING ACT for the FOLLOWING ARTISTS:
MIDNIGHT STAR & S.O.S. BAND 1983 - LEXINGTON, KY
ZAPP featuring ROGER TROUTMAN 1985 - LEXINGTON, KY
ALEXANDER O'NEAL and THE DAZZ BAND KSU HOMECOMING 1985 - FRANKFORT, KY
MORRIS DAY & THE TIME 2022 - LOUISVILLE, KY
GLENN JONES 2024 - LEXINGTON, KY
FUNDRAISERS for GREAT CAUSES
CONCERTS OPENING for NATIONAL RECORDING ARTISTS
DERBY TIME EVENTS
WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS
STARTED OUT PRACTICING and PLAYING with NEIGHBORHOOD MUSICIANS. AS TIME WENT ON, I JOINED DIFFERENT BANDS AND ULTIMATELY GOT TIRED OF THE "BAND BREAKUP SYNDROME" and STARTED HIRING MUSICIANS and VOCALISTS BACK in 1988
*MIDNIGHT STAR
*GROVER WASHINGTON, JR
*ROGER TROUTMAN & ZAPP
*NAJEE
*EARTH WIND & FIRE
*LUTHER VANDROSS
*PATTI LABELLE
*TEENA MARIE
*BEYONCE'
GREATEST SONGS:
"WE ARE THE WORLD"
and
"HEAD TO THE SKY"
Setup usually takes anywhere from 1-3 hours
YES
USUALLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO REQUESTS. BIT WE DO CATER TO WHAT GENRE OF MUSIC THE CLIENT REQUESTS FOR THEIR EVENT(S)
VERY ENTERTAINING and ENGAGING with HIGH ENERGY while MEETING THE MOOD of the MOMENTS
*LADYJO ENTERTAINMENT
*GERALD BELLE PROMOTIONS
*G2 COFFEE LOUNGE & BISTRO
*LA & FRIENDS PRODUCTIONS
*CRYSTAL BLOSSOM AFFAIR COMMITTEE
*A&B ENTERPRISES
*CHERYL J. PROMOTIONS
*MAC AVENUE EVENT CENTER
*MADISON COUNTY YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
*MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
*THE RED MILE GAMING & RACING
*LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE GUILD
*HOUSTON EVENTS MAGAZINE
*SOPHISTICATED LADY PRODUCTIONS
*COFFEE TALK JAZZ NETWORK MEDIA of LOS ANGELES
*BLACK JOCKEYS LOUNGE
*ROYALTIES EVENT CENTER
*KENTUCKY U.S. FREEDMEN COALITION
*ISAAC MURPHY MEMORIAL ARTS GARDEN
*CASTLEWOOD PARK
*DOUGLASS PARK
*BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
*DR. PAMELA PERRY-HILL
*BRO. NATHAN BANKS
*THE DENISON LOUISVILLE
*FROZEN SMOKE RESTAURANT ENTERTAINMENT
*ALMA ROBERTA ELLIOTT AWARENESS for DEMENTIA FOUNDATION
*ERICA DENISE ENTERTAINMENT
*PRESTIGIOUS ENTERTAINMENT
*HISTORIC LYRIC THEATRE & CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
*JOE'S PALM ROOM
*L.I.T. CIGAR BAR & LOUNGE
*BACK DECK BAR & LOUNGE
*KENTUCKY CENTER for AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE
*ROOTS 101 AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
*SHELBYVILLE CONFERENCE & WELCOME CENTER
Wedding
Party
Private Event
Corporate Event
Hotel / Restaurant Event
Bar / Venue Event
Funeral / Memorial
Wedding Proposal
Concert
Religious Event
Recording Session
Charity Event
Theatre Show
Christmas Party
New Year's Eve
Jazz
Blues
Cabaret
Christmas
Church Music
Gospel
Background Music
Originals
Lighting system included
Male & female vocalists
Male vocalist
Uses backing tracks
Female vocalist
DJ / background music options
Instrumental
Will travel internationally
PA / sound system included
Gig Heaven has members, our newest member is (updated )
