“Dan & Dave” Vocals & Piano Performed by Benjamin Lerner Music by Benjamin Lerner Written by Benjamin Lerner & Joshua Sherman Musical Arrangement by Benjamin Lerner & Joshua Sherman Art Direction by Joshua Sherman Animation by Leonard Kenyon Recorded and Mixed by Benjamin J. Arrindell Mastered by Andy VanDette Produced by Joshua Sherman Recorded at Old Mill Road Recording East Arlington, Vermont OldMillRoadRecording.com © 2019 by Joshua Sherman Productions, L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. Benjamin Lerner, the great-grandson of Irving Berlin (composer of such iconic tunes as “God Bless America” and “White Christmas”), started writing poetry at the age of eight and playing piano at the age of nine. A prodigy, by fourteen, Benjamin was playing full classical concerts. He also fell in love with rap music. The pressure of living up to the expectations of his family's musical legacy proved too much for him. Benjamin began using drugs and alcohol as a means of self-medication. In his early teens, it was limited to binge-drinking and habitual marijuana-use. At twenty, Benjamin was prescribed oxycodone for dental surgery and became addicted. Within two years, his opiate addiction had progressed into a full-fledged IV heroin and crack cocaine addiction. After multiple stints in rehab and years of on-again/off-again maintenance medications, Benjamin sought help for his addiction in June 2016. He has remained sober ever since. Benjamin credits his continued success in recovery to his ability to express his emotions relating to his struggle through word and song. He has developed a new hybrid genre, combining rap and classical piano. He creates all new piano compositions rooted in classical music theory – and simultaneously raps over them, journaling his experience with addiction and life in sobriety. His first full album is currently in its final stages of development, with a planned release in 2020. Benjamin hopes that by sharing his story, others struggling with addiction, will find hope and help. He feels it is never too late to find one’s true-self. Benjamin’s great-grandfather created a vision of hope in the 20th century through his music. Similarly, Benjamin hopes that by sharing his personal journey through this new hybrid of rap and classical music, he can bring hope to others who are struggling.
Benjamin Lerner - Dan & Dave
