Eric Benet Releases New CD Cover Art for New Album, “The One” | Coming June 5th, 2012

ABOUT ERIC BENET

R&B Crooner, songwriter and actor Eric Benét has successfully released five albums and is currently gearing up for the release of his sixth album entitled The One, which is slated for a Spring 2012 release. Very appropriately named, Benét’s new album The One marks a moment of positive transition in his life and lyrically speaks to the many new beginnings developing in his career and family. The One will also be the first album released on Benét’s newly formed record label Jordan House Records, which he created in partnership with EMI.

“Real Love” (available on iTunes) is the first single off Benét’s new forthcoming album The One and was the #1 added song to Urban AC when shipped to radio in October 2011 and is currently #14 on the Urban AC chart and climbing quickly. This new single is a taste of what to expect on Benét’s new album, which he describes as a “very contemporary approach to old-school songwriting integrity”. The One will also feature his signature mid-70s soul groove, a variety of instruments from strings to horns to featured artists and even a duet with his first daughter India.

Eric Benét was also recently nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for “Best Traditional R&B Performance” for his single “Sometimes I Cry”, up against artists Cee Lo Green (“Fool For You” feat Melanie Fiona), R. Kelly (“Radio Message”), Raphael Saadiq (“Good Man”), Betty Wright & The Roots (“Surrender”). The Grammy Awards will air on Sunday February 12th, 2012. Additionally, Benét was nominated for a 2011 Soul Train Award for “Best Male R&B/Soul Artist” and also performed during the Soul Train Award’s tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, which aired November 27th on BET.

In addition to a new album, single & record label, Eric Benét also has a new marriage and baby. Eric married Manuela Testolini on July 31st, 2011 in Newport Beach, CA and the newlyweds welcomed their baby daughter, Lucia, on December 21, 2011. Previously, Eric was married to actress Halle Berry from 2001 – 2005 and has one daughter named India from a prior relationship with his longtime girlfriend Tami Marie Stauff, who tragically died in a car accident leaving Eric as a single father to their daughter at age 1. India is now 21 years old, attending USC and very musically gifted. Testolini also familiar with being in a Hollywood marriage was married to Prince prior to Benét.  

Eric Benét grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1970s and was the youngest of five musically talented siblings. He started out singing with a group called Gerard in the late 1980s; then Benét, his sister Lisa, and his cousin George Nash Jr. formed a band called Benét and in 1992, they were signed to EMI and released a self-titled album. Two years later, Eric Benét broke onto the music scene with his solo career and signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his debut solo album, True to Myself in 1996. His sophomore album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999 and featured his smash hit “Spend My Life With You (featuring Tamia)”, which rose to #1 on the US Billboard R&B charts (for 3 weeks), was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group”. The album also won a Soul Train Music Award for “Best R&B/Soul Album, Male”.

In 2001, Benét decided to leave Warner Bros. and signed with the Reprise-distributed label, Friday Records, where he released his next studio album, Hurricane on June 21, 2005, which featured “I Wanna Be Loved” that reached #2 on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart. His fourth album Love & Life was released on September 9, 2008, debuting at #11 on Billboard 200 and #2 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album featured fan favorite “Chocolate Legs” and his hit single “You’re The Only One”, which spent 4 weeks straight at #1 on Urban AC radio and was nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award for “Best R&B Male Performance”. In November 2010, Eric released his fifth album Lost in Time featuring duets with Faith Evans, Chrisette Michelle, Ledisi, and Eddie Levert of The O’Jays; plus his single “Sometimes I Cry”, which reached # 1 on the Hot Adult R&B Songs Chart.

Benét has also been active as an actor and most recently starred in his first lead role in the feature film “Trinity Goodheart” also starring Erica Gluck, which premiered at the American Black Film Festival on July 9th, 2011. Additionally, Eric had a recurring role on the television program For Your Love (1998–2002) and made his film debut alongside Mariah Carey in Glitter (2001).

Tracklist

1. Harriett Jones
2. News For You
3. Real Love
4. Runnin’
5. Red Bone Girl featuring Lil Wayne
6. Waitin’
7. Hope That It’s You featuring Shaggy
8. Gonna Be My Girl
9. Come Together
10. Muzik featuring India Benét
11. Lay It Down
12. Here In My Arms (Lucia’s Lullaby)