Bio Full Biography »

Benjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes." "Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. Orr sang lead on "Drive" and "Just What I Needed." Born Benjamin Orzechowski on September 8, 1947, in Lakewood (Cleveland), OH, Orr would entertain his family and friends with Elvis Presley imitations. During his teens, he learned to play guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion instruments. Dropping out of high school, he earned a living as a session guitarist and as a member of local Cleveland TV show, Upbeat. Orr introduced himself to singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek at a band rehearsal. Later, the two played each other their original songs. Ocasek asked him to join his band and Orr became their keyboardist. The band had the same booking agency as the Stooges and MC5 and they all began touring together. After a while, Orr and the rest of the rest of the band headed to New York City in se...