About Ben

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ben Mauro was born in Syracuse and raised in nearby Memphis, NY.  He graduated from West Genesee High School and attended Onondaga Community College.

His first music jobs were playing guitar and singing with local bands, and later with regional touring groups.  Later on he moved to New Jersey, where he played with bands in New York City and up and down the Jersey Shore.

After that he played in the house band at the famous Café Wha? in Greenwich Village, NYC,  six nights a week for four years.  While in New York he had the opportunity to audition for Lionel Richie, who was performing at Madison Square Garden Theater, and was hired immediately for a show in Dubai.  Ben has continued to be Lionel’s lead guitarist and back up vocalist since that show in 2001.

In 2004, Ben relocated to Los Angeles.  Besides Lionel, he has toured with several other celebrated and world famous artists including Cher, Don Felder of the Eagles, John Fogerty, Britney Spears, and Kelly Clarkson on the first American Idols tour.

In 2018, Ben moved to Music City, Nashville, Tennessse.

Ben also performs solo or with his own band where he showcases original music from his three EPS: Good Day, To LA, and From NY, all available on iTunes or Amazon.    He also gives private guitar lessons in person or over the internet.

Back home, Ben sponsors a Music Education Endowment at West Genesee High School to support their outstanding music program.  He also speaks to guitar students at West Genny and OCC.  

He also has produced and hosted over fifty episodes of a travel show on his YouTube channel called “Let’s Go with Ben Mauro.”  In them, Ben gives viewers a taste of what a working musician does on his days off while touring the world.