Over the years, Ben Folds’ first-class melodic gifts, irony-laced lyrics, and punk-rock tendency to play piano as if it were a contact sport have earned the North Carolina native a legion of devoted fans. Folds has been going pretty much non-stop since the 2001 release of his debut solo album, Rockin’ the Suburbs, which has sold more than half a million copies. In short order, Folds has released a live album (2002’s aptly titled Ben Folds Live) and a pioneering series of three Internet-only digital EP’s: Speed Graphic (which topped the Billboard Internet Album, iTunes, and Soundscan Downloadable Tracks charts), Sunny 16 and Super D in 2003-2004; co-wrote and produced William Shatner’s 2004 solo album, Has Been; released 2005’s pensive Songs for Silverman (which featured the Adult Top 40 hit “Landed”); contributed three original songs to the soundtrack for the 2006 film Over the Hedge; and produced a forthcoming solo album by Dresden Dolls front woman Amanda Palmer. In 2006, Folds released Supersunnyspeedgraphic, a compilation of tracks from the Internet-only EP’s and B-sides, including an inspired cover of Dr. Dre’s “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” which climbed to No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has now sold 132,000 digital singles at iTunes. “It’s my biggest hit,” jokes Folds. Folds was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2011 and continues to tour and make new fans at every show.
