Ben Lummis
Encyclopedia
Ben Lummis is a New Zealand R&B/Pop
recording artist who rose to musical fame as the winner of the First season of New Zealand Idol
in 2004. He is of Māori (Ngati Porou
) and Pākehā
(European) and Tongan descent. He is very close to his family, and has five siblings.
in early 2004, and after passing through the theatre rounds, he qualified for the semi-finals, where the public voted him through to the Top 10. Lummis's first few weeks in the Top 10 were shaky, as he landed in the bottom 3 contestants on three separate occasions. However, from the top 6 onwards, he was never in the bottom three again, and on 10 May 2004, he was crowned as the first New Zealand Idol, defeating Michael Murphy
, who had never been in the bottom three throughout the entire competition. Ben is one of only two Idol winners world wide to land in the Bottom 3 in the first week of their season's finals. The other is 2005 Canadian Idol
Melissa O'Neil
.
", which debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart. It held the position for seven weeks and was certified 4xPlatinum, selling 40,000 copies. Lummis completed a nationwide New Zealand Idol Live! tour with his fellow finalists, and then on 15 June 2004, just four weeks after his Idol victory, Lummis released his debut album, One Road
. Although the album sold 45,000 copies and was certified 3xPlatinum, it was badly received by the music industry. Paul Ellis, the album's producer and New Zealand Idol judge later described it as "the worst-sounding album of my entire career".
To date it has sold 45,000 copies.
Three months after the release of his album, Lummis suddenly left his record label Sony BMG under mutual disagreement. Many music industry observers stated that the move was interesting, as Lummis had held the top spot on the albums and singles chart simultaneously for more than a week with strong sales, but was dropped by his label nevertheless.
After another short break, Lummis was announced as one of the ten contestants on Pop's Ultimate Star
, a new New Zealand reality television
show whose aim was to take contestants from past singing competitions and pit them against one another in order to discover the country's favourite reality show singing star. The show debuted on 29 May 2007, and after passing through the first four weeks without falling into the bottom two at all, Lummis made it to the final six. At this point he fell into the bottom two alongside Emily Williams
, the runner-up from the third season of Australian Idol
, and was voted off on 1 July after an elimination duel with Williams, finishing in sixth place. After this, he announced his intention to release more new music independently.
He has also appeared on the TVNZ morning show, Good Morning
, where he made a live performance of one of his new tracks called, "Smooth Lady", the first song from the album.
and belongs to and attends the Breakthrough Church In Auckland, New Zealand. He credits his success to God, with the understanding that, however far it takes him, he will always be able to remember his time in the spotlight.
singer/artist Ben Lummis.
"Gotta Move" was released only through Ben's official website and was therefore not eligible to chart
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
recording artist who rose to musical fame as the winner of the First season of New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
in 2004. He is of Māori (Ngati Porou
Ngati Porou
Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...
) and Pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
(European) and Tongan descent. He is very close to his family, and has five siblings.
New Zealand Idol 2004
Lummis auditioned for the first season of New Zealand IdolNew Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
in early 2004, and after passing through the theatre rounds, he qualified for the semi-finals, where the public voted him through to the Top 10. Lummis's first few weeks in the Top 10 were shaky, as he landed in the bottom 3 contestants on three separate occasions. However, from the top 6 onwards, he was never in the bottom three again, and on 10 May 2004, he was crowned as the first New Zealand Idol, defeating Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy (singer)
Michael Murphy is a singer and New Zealand Idol runner-up for 2004. Right from the start of the competition, Michael was a hot favourite with the majority of the voters being female and aged between 11-17...
, who had never been in the bottom three throughout the entire competition. Ben is one of only two Idol winners world wide to land in the Bottom 3 in the first week of their season's finals. The other is 2005 Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
Melissa O'Neil
Melissa O'Neil
Melissa Crystal O'Neil is a Canadian singer who was the winner of the third season of Canadian Idol in 2005. She was the first female winner and is the second youngest idol winner in the world, with the youngest being 2004 Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan...
.
New Zealand Idol Performances
- Top 36 - "Suspicious Minds", Elvis Presley
- Top 24 - "Back at One", Brian McKnight
- Top 10 - "Never Too Much", Luther Vandross - Bottom 3
- Top 9 - "Oughta Be In Love", Dave Dobbyn - Bottom 3
- Top 8 - "Hang on in There Baby", Johnny Bristol
- Top 7 - "Can Love You Like That", All-4-One - Bottom 3
- Top 6 - "Kiss From A Rose", Seal
- Top 5 - "Treat Her Like a Lady", The Temptations
- Top 4 - "American Woman", The Guess Who
- Top 4 - "Livin' on a Prayer", Bon Jovi
- Top 3 - "The Power of Love", Huey Lewis
- Top 3 - "Rhythm of the Night", El De Barge
- Top 2 - "Kiss From a Rose", Seal
- Top 2 - "I Believe I Can Fly", R. Kelly
- Top 2 - "Livin' on a Prayer", Bon Jovi
- Grand Final - "They Can't Take That Away" (Winner's single) - Declared 1st New Zealand Idol
2004-2005: One Road
Immediately after his victory, Lummis signed a recording contract with music giant Sony BMG and released his debut single "They Can't Take That AwayThey Can't Take That Away
"They Can’t Take That Away" is a single by New Zealand Idol season one winner, Benjamin Lummis, released in 2004. It went to number one in its first week, where it remained for seven weeks....
", which debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart. It held the position for seven weeks and was certified 4xPlatinum, selling 40,000 copies. Lummis completed a nationwide New Zealand Idol Live! tour with his fellow finalists, and then on 15 June 2004, just four weeks after his Idol victory, Lummis released his debut album, One Road
One Road (Ben Lummis album)
One Road is the debut album by first-season New Zealand Idol winner Ben Lummis, released in New Zealand on 16 June 2004.-Chart:One Road debuted on the official New Zealand albums chart at number 1 and held the position for two consecutive weeks...
. Although the album sold 45,000 copies and was certified 3xPlatinum, it was badly received by the music industry. Paul Ellis, the album's producer and New Zealand Idol judge later described it as "the worst-sounding album of my entire career".
To date it has sold 45,000 copies.
Three months after the release of his album, Lummis suddenly left his record label Sony BMG under mutual disagreement. Many music industry observers stated that the move was interesting, as Lummis had held the top spot on the albums and singles chart simultaneously for more than a week with strong sales, but was dropped by his label nevertheless.
2006-2007: Independent Music and Pop's Ultimate Star
Having taken a career break following his debut album and departure from Sony BMG, Lummis released the single "Gotta Move" in 2006, independently and exclusively through his personal website. Although well received by fans, the single was unable to chart as its sales were online only and at the time, not tracked by the RIANZ.After another short break, Lummis was announced as one of the ten contestants on Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
, a new New Zealand reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show whose aim was to take contestants from past singing competitions and pit them against one another in order to discover the country's favourite reality show singing star. The show debuted on 29 May 2007, and after passing through the first four weeks without falling into the bottom two at all, Lummis made it to the final six. At this point he fell into the bottom two alongside Emily Williams
Emily Williams
Emily Williams , is a New Zealand-born Australian singer-songwriter, who rose to fame on the third season of Australian Idol in 2005, and became runner-up of the season...
, the runner-up from the third season of Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
, and was voted off on 1 July after an elimination duel with Williams, finishing in sixth place. After this, he announced his intention to release more new music independently.
2007 – present: New Album
Lummis announced in late 2007, that he had intentions on writing more of his own music, and releasing songs independently on a new album. Since then Lummis has been working on a new album, right throughout 2008 and was planning to release the album in 2009.He has also appeared on the TVNZ morning show, Good Morning
Good Morning (New Zealand show)
Good Morning is a New Zealand morning television magazine lifestyle show. It airs weekday mornings from 9am - 12pm on TV ONE. The show began in 1996 and is hosted by Jeanette Thomas and Rod Chesseman...
, where he made a live performance of one of his new tracks called, "Smooth Lady", the first song from the album.
Religious Faith
Lummis is a devout Pentecostal ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and belongs to and attends the Breakthrough Church In Auckland, New Zealand. He credits his success to God, with the understanding that, however far it takes him, he will always be able to remember his time in the spotlight.
Discography
The following article is a complete discography of the albums and singles released by New Zealand R&B/PopPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer/artist Ben Lummis.
Albums
| Year | Information | New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Sales and Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | One Road One Road (Ben Lummis album) One Road is the debut album by first-season New Zealand Idol winner Ben Lummis, released in New Zealand on 16 June 2004.-Chart:One Road debuted on the official New Zealand albums chart at number 1 and held the position for two consecutive weeks...
|
New Zealand sales: 45,000 RIANZ: 3xPlatinum |
|
Singles
| Year | Song | New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "They Can't Take That Away They Can't Take That Away "They Can’t Take That Away" is a single by New Zealand Idol season one winner, Benjamin Lummis, released in 2004. It went to number one in its first week, where it remained for seven weeks.... " |
1 | 4xPlatinum | One Road One Road (Ben Lummis album) One Road is the debut album by first-season New Zealand Idol winner Ben Lummis, released in New Zealand on 16 June 2004.-Chart:One Road debuted on the official New Zealand albums chart at number 1 and held the position for two consecutive weeks... |
| 2006 | "Gotta Move" | — | — | Single Only |
Other Albums/Singles
| Statistics | Singles |
|---|---|
Home Grown (With the Top 10 of NZ Idol)
|
– #4 (Gold) (With the Top 10 of NZ Idol) |