Harper in 2013, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Benjamin Chase Harper
Place of Birth: Claremont, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: October 28, 1969
Ethnicity:
*50% African-American
*37.5% Ashkenazi Jewish
*12.5% English
Ben Harper is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He released a track, “Boa Sorte/Good Luck,” that was number one in Brazil and Portugal in 2007.
Ben is the son of Ellen and Leonard Harper. His father is African-American. His mother is of one quarters English and three quarters Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her own paternal grandfather was of English ancestry, with colonial American roots in New Hampshire.
Ben has two children with his former wife, actress Laura Dern, and two children from another previous marriage. Ben’s maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Charles Chase, founded the Folk Music Center and Museum in Claremont, California, in 1957.
Ben’s paternal grandfather was Leonard Edward Harper (the son of Robert Delaney Harper and Edna Duncan). Ben’s grandfather Leonard was born in Missouri, and was African-American. Leonard was killed in action in World War II, on January 11, 1945, when Ben’s father was a small infant.
Ben’s paternal grandmother was Tommie Lee Swayne (the daughter of Thomas Swayne and Linney Rozier). Tommie was born in California, and was African-American.
Ben’s maternal grandfather was Charles Chase (the son of Fred Bates Chase and Elba/Ella/Alma E. Korb). Ben’s grandfather Charles was born in Massachusetts, and was raised on a farm in New Hampshire. Ben’s great-grandfather Fred was born in New Hampshire, and was the son of Joseph Chase and Victoria E. Bates. He was of English (Colonial American) background. Ben’s great-grandmother Elba was a Russian Jewish/Latvian Jewish immigrant, the daughter of Myer Korb and Rebecca Bloom.
Ben’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy Edna Udin (the daughter of Albert Udin and Bess/Bessie Aronoff/Aranoff). Dorothy was born in Massachusetts, to a Russian Jewish father and a Latvian Jewish mother.
Sources: Genealogy of Ben Harper (heavily incorrect) – https://www.geni.com
Marriage record of Ben’s paternal grandparents, Leonard Edward Harper and Tommie Lee Swayne – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Ben’s paternal grandmother, Tommie Lee (Swayne) Harper – https://www.legacy.com
Genealogy of Ben’s mother (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Marriage record of Ben’s maternal grandparents, Charles Chase and Dorothy Edna Udin – https://www.familysearch.org
Ben’s maternal grandfather, Charles Chase, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Charles Chase on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Ben’s maternal grandfather, Charles Chase – https://www.latimes.com
Marriage record of Ben’s maternal great-grandparents, Fred Bates Chase and Elba/Ella/Alma E. Korb – https://www.familysearch.org
Ben’s maternal great-grandfather, Fred Bates Chase, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Ben’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Joseph Chase and Victoria E. Bates – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Ben’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Victoria E. (Bates) Chase (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Birth records of Ben’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Edna Udin – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org
Ben’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Edna Udin, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Ben’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Edna (Udin) Chase – https://www.latimes.com
Marriage record of Ben’s maternal great-grandparents, Albert Udin and Bess/Bessie Aronoff/Aranoff – https://www.familysearch.org
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