Ben Folds with Rufus Wainwright

Combined with lyrics that can go from heartbreakingly earnest to biting and humorous, Ben Folds' knack for crafting engaging melodies have helped fuel his climb into the mainstream, from piano-bashing college rock upstart to well-loved and widely-known crooner. The North Carolina native emerged on the greater music scene in the mid-'90s as the leader of the piano power trio Ben Folds Five. The group made it into the Top 50 in North America, the U.K., Australia, and Japan with both their second album, 1997's Whatever and Ever Amen -- featuring the plaintive alternative hit "Bri...