Ben Raftus

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ben Raftus always had an interest in the guitar even as a child. He was brought up on pop, folk, hard rock, and blues based rock music from the 1960s onward. He received his first electric guitar in 2002 and took to it naturally. Self-taught, Ben would play for hours daily, knowing there was always more to learn; a philosophy to which he still adheres. He spent time delving deep into the blues, gaining immense appreciation for great musicians of the past as well as inspiration from artists of our time. It was not long after picking up the guitar that Ben began to write his own music. Although he always prided himself as a guitarist, Ben knew he had to do more if he wanted a career in music. In late 2007 Ben began focusing on writing lyrics, shaping himself into a singer/songwriter. Though he primarily considers himself to be a guitarist, he is equally confident in his song writing, and takes both arts very seriously. Ben attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, completing a Bachelor of Arts program majoring in Sociology and Social Anthropology with a minor in English. But it was his passion for music that led him to move to Toronto in the summer of 2009 to start his career. Ever since, Ben has been performing often, working hard to break onto the music scene.
Ben's main musical influences are Aerosmith, Steve Earle, Johnny Thunders, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Janis Joplin, Jeff Beck, Elmore James, BB King, Peter Green, Rod Stewart, Buddy Guy, Alice Cooper, The Beatles