R.I.P. Go-go Pioneer Little Benny: Chuck Brown & Others Reminisce
Early Sunday morning, Washington D.C. lost one of go-go’s pioneering musicians, Anthony “Little Benny” Harley, who at age 46, according to published sources, died in his sleep, after having performed with Chuck Brown the night before at the Capitol Heights Ballroom in Capitol Heights, MD on a bill with EU, Bela Dona, and Da Mixx Band. Little Benny joined Rare Essence as a teenager in the 1970s, playing trumpet, adding distinctive husky-voiced vocals, and leading their choreographed dance steps. In the mid-80s he formed his own group, Little Benny & the Masters, best known for the catchy “Cat in the Hat,” and this always busy musician later performed with Proper Utensils, the Legends of Go-go, a reunited old-school Rare Essence, and Chuck Brown. Harley recently had back surgery and was walking with a cane. An autopsy is going to be performed. Mayor Fenty issued a statement, The Washington Post noted his death this morning, and WUSA channel 9 news did so last night. Fans have been paying tribute to his one-of-a-kind skills on WPGC’s website and the Facebook sites of the P.A. Palace and EU’s Sugar Bear, to name a few. Funeral information or an address for charitable donations has not yet been provided. Chuck Brown, Kip Lornell, Tom Goldfogle, and Soldierette offer their thoughts to the City Paper below.
George Washington University professor, and co-author of “The Beat: Go-Go’s Fusion of Funk and Hip-hop,” Kip Lornell recalled, “The first time I met Benny was about 12 years ago when I went to his home to interview him for "The Beat". Benny was most gracious and opened up his home. He patiently answered my questions and it was clear how important go-go was to him and, by extension his family and his peers. Benny was always a solid trumpet player since his days at Ballou High School but it was his singing and warm presence on stage that placed him near the top of the "most asked to come up on stage" list around town. In addition to his days with Rare Essence and, later with Little Benny and the Masters, Mr. Harley often appeared with the Godfather. There seemed to be a special warmth between Chuck and Benny. Whenever Benny came on stage, Chuck seemed to feel utterly at ease knowing that everything would be kicking just fine when he turned the stage over to Benny who was always exuberant, exciting, and professional. Because he was so enthusiastic Benny could hype a crowd without even trying, it was just his way.”
Rene Dickerson, better known as Soldierette, a longtime DC blogger who also managed Benny’s group “The Legends of Go-go,” said “Benny was my friend and confidant. I've seen Benny perform thousands of times; the first time being with the Masters. I was his personal manager and promoter during the heyday of "The Legends of Go-Go" so I've seen him perform in tiny basements to great halls to nightclubs to little shacks in the hills of Virginia to huge coliseums. My last time seeing him perform was the night that I left DC for Illinois. We had the most fun we'd had in years and he wanted me to make sure I took pictures of not just him, but of everyone that wanted to be in a picture with him.” She added, “One of my fondest memories of Benny is him calling me every morning, for years, at around 4am, just to talk until it was time to get his kids up and take them to school. I would be dead asleep, but would get up and put some coffee on and keep his company after a night of performing. He had great plans for the rest of his life, and even greater plans for the kids in his life. His love of children is something most didn't even know about him. He dreamed of a children's music school that taught kids how to read music, play an instrument, and especially carry on the history of go-go music. He would perform anywhere for free when it involved little kids. He left behind a 5 month old baby who would never get to know how special he was.”
Regarding Benny’s place in the DC go-go scene she concluded, “Benny was important to the industry because he always kept it competitive. He was always looking to be different from the rest. He'd start a new band when no one thought he could. He would show up on someone's cd out of the blue. He would come back when everybody was saying he had lost his voice, or was on drugs, or was doing whatever the popular rumor was; he always came back. He just loved music and would study it as part of his life; part of his being. He was fascinated by Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He wanted more for go-go and he wanted to be the one who took it to that level. Other talkers and musicians looked up to him as the one to strive to be like, or to pass on the circuit…He always made his band members stronger players, and that is what will live on past his life with us.”
Tom Goldfogle, Chuck Brown's manager, stated "I can only tell you that Benny is sewn into the fabric of this community and its culture and he brought so much joy to so many. The energy he brought to the stage everynight was unparalleled. He lived life to the fullest and loved to perform. " Chuck Brown said, "I am heartbroken at the loss of my dear friend Lil Benny. I used to go to some of the Rare Essence rehearsals in the early days and watch them. I was honored to produce their first record, Body Moves. One day when I was not feeling well and my voice was giving out I asked Benny if he would come to the show and help me out. That was sixteen years ago, and he’s been with us on stage ever since. There is nobody like him. No one can replace him. He was such a crowd pleaser, a motivator, always had a positive outlook. He was a true pioneer, a music legend. He performed the songs we all grew up on and loved. He took it to another level – every night. Words cannot express how much he will be missed."
* Photo from Soldierette's website
10:39 pm
Having met Lil Benny is so cool and having my son take a photo with him is history and will be enamored in our lives. My thoughts of Lil Benny Harley is fun, joyous and inspirational and enduring to say the most about him.
Legends are few in DC, my native hometown; and Lil Benny's exuberance and foresight on the Go-Go scene could not, will not and should not be matched! I say let it be his shrine for individuality, originality and finality for those who loved Go-Go. For an entertainer who exhibited glory for 20 plus years I am glad Iwitnessed and participated in his performances free or for a fee.
Jacques Chevalier says nice to have met you, my brother.
10:45 pm
LITTLE BENNY WATCH ME GROW UP @ SOUTHVIEW I ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE HE USED TO LIVE NEXT TO ON 22ND STREET HE BE MISSED I'M SO SORRY ABOUT HIS LOST I HOPE THEY PLAYED ALL HIS GO-GO MUSIC ON THE RADIO ALL THIS WEEK I LOVE ALL LITTLE BENNY MUSIC TAKE CARE LITTLE BENNY REST IN PEACE
8:15 am
Rest in peace Little Benny. You will be remembered fondly. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
8:54 am
I WILL ALWAYS REMEBER HOW YOU CALLED ME TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE TO PARTY.."SWEET JEJUAN" WAS MY QUEUE TO COME TO THE FRONT...THE DAYS FROM EASTSIDE,TRIPPLES,THE BLACK HOLE,LEGENDS TO TAKOMA STATION OVER THE YRS HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO PARTY WITH YOU AND THE BANDS.. YOU WILL BE TRULY MISSED LIL BENNY !!! I LUV YOU.
9:30 am
Benny was a friend and also a brother to me.He gave me many chances to perform with him He also showed me how to present myself better on stage.He was on of the few that took me under his wing and said follow me and I will make you one of the best singers that DC has to offer in this industry.Benny i will miss you as my good friend. Know one will take your place as a go-go legend.You set the bar of perfection as a rapper and musician.Now you are in good hand as you lay resting with our other pioneers of the DC Go-Go industry....
9:52 am
R.I.P. Lil Benny
10:12 am
Lil Benny was a "true" performer and "stage General". "Sice em on up" straight to Heaven !
R.I.P. Lil Benny
You'll be deeply missed.
10:33 am
Lil Benny wow I can't believe you are gone sweetie. Just bumped into you 2 months ago after your surgery. You promised me you would be back partying after a few months of rehab. When my cuz Marie or as you fondly call her "Starburst" told me you were gone. It was like somebody kicked the air out of me. It was you that introduced me to go-go at age 14 at the Panorama Room. I been partying with you since and I'll be 44 this year. You will truly be missed Benny there will never be another like you. You were the best that ever did it baby!!
11:29 am
rest in peace lil benny, there will neva be another like you !!!!!!!!!!
11:57 am
I never heard of this dude.
12:00 pm
I consider myself to be a part of the origional GO GO crowed meaning the way GO GO is played today, from 1979 to the present. I have taken my love for GO GO around the world as I traveled I have not heard anything that makes you move your feet like our GO GO beat. I have been in clubs from DC to the west cost the same people that say they don't like GO GO can't stop moving when some crankin GO GO comes on.I want to say thank you for carrying the torch GO GO has mint so much to this city. Well little brother its been few years since we talked maybe I can meet up with you in haven and WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ONE ON ONE. RIP LITTLE BENNY
12:21 pm
Jesse Helms: If you google: how did go-go music start?... read it, Lil Benny's name is in wikipedia as one of the founding memmbers. I can only say that "Bustin Loose" was Chuck all right, but more like P-Funk style back then, than go-go; but when you hear Benny (copy & paste this link...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6y8NXnGoj0 you hear the horns, congas, tams, etc...You know that Chuck was a performer for the grown & sexy, but before go-go became about neighborhoods, sets, & crews, lil benny was explaining every day life, putting it to a sound my generation could relate too...."I'm talking bout the cat n the hat (person/thing we all have heard of)...use to do smack (a type of drug), now he does crack (worse drug), can't get it back (what we all wish after going from bad to worse...if we can only take it back)...so if you listen to the lyrics & get past all the drums & "noise", then the beat & melody will pull you into the groove,,,next thing you know, you'll be looking for dat crankin Benny joant, lol...rip man.
12:43 pm
Lil Benny, you will be missed by many. Where you're going you can continue your music there and become a legend because, you'll always be a legend in many hearts.
REST-IN-PEACE
LIL BENNY
12:55 pm
One of GoGo's strongest and powerful legends is gone, but not forgotten RIP Benny. Peace and Blessings to your family. We will miss you greatly.
12:55 pm
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Lil Benny on the 09 Super Jazz Cruise. His encouraging words of keeping the faith helped me to get thought that day. I just want to say Thank You and you will be missed. Rest in Peace.
2:19 pm
R.I.P. LIL BENNY
2:21 pm
LIL BENNY WILL BE MISSED GREATLY.THE LAST TIME I SEEN LIL BENNY WAS LAST YEAR "09" AT THE ERYKAH BADU SHOW.WHEN BENNY CAME OUT ON THAT STAGE THE CROWD WAS HYPE. THATS HOW HE DO IT! HE WAS A SWEET PERSON AND ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. IT WAS SUCH A HONOR TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. LIL BENNY REST IN PEACE.LOVE "SWEET OVETTA " AS YOU CALLED ME.
2:26 pm
RIP Lil Benny.. Man, I can still hear you saying,"Where you wanna go? Where you wanna go?".. You will be missed, big brova..
3:00 pm
RIP...it's brothers like you that inspired me to do gospel go-go. RIP....
3:39 pm
I am so saddened by this news. I just met Lil Benny about 2 weeks ago on the TJMS Fantastic Voyage Cruise. I was not at all familiar with go-go music and while sitting at the bar, he came up and started a conversation with me telling me about go-go. I had no idea who he was, but I was delighted because he was really nice. At the time, Chuck Brown had just started his performance. Little Benny took the stage later and I was completely blown away! I fell in love with go-go and his stlye was so invigorating that I had to get up on my feet! They performed for five nights straight and Lil Benny asked me my name and gave me a shot out while on stage. I was determined to get some video of his performance and immediately after the cruise I posted i to my facebook page.
Lil Benny is truly a legend and will be missed. I am thankful to have met him, talked to him and experienced his musical talents!
7:56 pm
Meeting and listening to my DUDE, LIL BENNY over 30+ years of GO-GO, is a honor, to say, I AM A GO-GO ADDICT and proud of it, WHAT!!! Mann, It hurts me to my soul, to say, R.I.P. to my friend, and my music teacher, LITTLE BENNY. LOVE ALWAYS DUDE.
10:36 pm
Anthony "Lil Benny" Harley, you will be greatly missed. I still have cassette tapes in a box from back in the "Cat in the Hat, Body Moves, One on One, & Syce Em on Up" days. I loved his voice, the dance steps, the horny horns, he always kept you in the groove ... Get your freak on ... Benny be putting it down. I got my children listening to the old and new. A true GoGo Legend. RIP you will never be forgotten.
11:44 pm
Man.......I cant picture go go without Benny.......man it hurts to lose a person that you grew up with.....he was the James Brown of DC...dude was a legend and his energy now that I think about it was all most magical how people changed when he got on the mike its like he had special powers....crowd went crazy.....at constitution hall at charlie wilson show...when he came on with chuck brown...man we miss you.....now I know what my parents mean when they say the good old days......those were good days......! Wilmers Park, Emery Park etc...
2:36 am
Mr Anthony lil-Benny Hartey I want thank you for bring go-go music alive! And giving Wash.DC. So much of your love and. joy.Brother u are missed!!! Love kenny
4:43 am
I had the pleasure of watching Little Benny, Chuck Brown and several of the Go Go icons partner with the Metropolitan Police Department. He volunteered his time and energy to do a public service print ad and video(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u--fJhRrryg). He cared about the the crowd, he cared about the music and he cared about his community. A one of a kind guy that will truly be missed.
MPD
.
6:47 am
When I was a kid growing up in the 70's in Washington DC, the kids in my neighborhood idolized Lil' Benny. When I first learned about Lil Benny, I had just started Hart Jr. High School in Southeast DC (Lil Benny's alma-malta and where I believe he studied music) and all I heard was "Lil Benny this" and "Lil Benny that". He was even a legend back then!!! When I first saw Benny play with Essence, it was at Highlands. Man what an experience! As the kids from my neighborhood would climb up the hills of Highland, we could hear Rare Essence crankin’ it and hear Lil' Benny's booming voice seems like from miles away. We get all excited cause Benny was sycing us up!
Y'all remember when they lost the power up at Highlands and how Lil' Benny was managing the band? “We lost the power y’all, somebody then turned off the power now”. DC blowing his sax mellow and keeping the crowd chill while Jungle Boogie smackin them congos. Even though they had a power failure, man that was one of the best performances of Rare Essence I heard and Benny “the master” was orchestrating his band that night just like he always had done, just like he will up in heaven! I will miss you Lil' Benny, man you are one of the greats!
8:58 am
Lil benny u will be miss, I remember me and my cousin tracy use to go see u all the time her mother use to watch u when u were young, we will miss u rip.
10:43 am
I first saw Lil Benny perform with the Masters back in '87. My buddies and I saw him one weekend performing at Bowie State College and then we followed him up to Towson the next weekend for that performance. That Cat in the Hat album was incredible. I had it on tape and had to repurchase it a few times b/c it wore out from being played over and over so many times.
RIP Lil Benny
11:17 am
I worked with Benny back in the 70's; we were a small office family and he was a joy to be around; he was wonderful with children especially my son - Jasen(who is now performing with Lessen -"O"); Benny was always a special person - very caring and fun to be with; I loved his performances and will always remember how excited he was especially when he went to Europe to perform....I love him like a brother and was very shocked with the news; he really introduced me to go go and I consider him "the Prince of Go Go! I love his smile which will always be a wonderful vision for me and he will always have a place in my heart! Until we met again little brother - rest now!
12:28 pm
little benny at peterbug's day
1:21 pm
In the days of Special Request band and Show. I take my hat off to my friend Lil Benny. The years of playing ur tapes and going to the shows I always like the dance steps u put on.....R.I.P. my good friend.
5:34 pm
R.I.P Lil Benny! I will miss u every day of the rest of my life. You have been a part of my life every since the first time I met u at "Evans Grill" back in the 80's. I will remember u as I last saw u in Baltimore MD last year. GOD knew best so he took u home 2 rest.
Missing U
T.D. Annapolis MD.
5:45 pm
My love & prayers go out to the mom/dad,wife & family of lil benny.He will forever be remembered as a great musician,leader,teacher,mentor & friend.His legecy will live on for years to come.There will never be another like him,he was a special breed.I have been around this man from a young teen until now & feel that i can truely speak on what type of person he was.Benny has always had a good heart & would give the shirt off his back for you.I love you lil Benny & may GOD keep you in his presence for all eternity!
5:52 pm
BENNY I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING AND PARTYING WITH YOU SO MANY TIMES. SO MANY FUN MEMORIES...GOOD MEMORIES OF YOU WITH RE, PROPER UTINSILS AND CHUCK, I WILL NEVER FORGET. THANKS SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO GO-GO. I'VE BEEN PARTYING WITH U IN THE CLUBS SINCE I WAS 14 AND NOW IM 40. I HAVE MY SON LISTENING TO YOUR STUFF NOW, HE LOVES YOUR CD "LIVE @ THE CAFE" IT WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE YOU, NO ONE THAT CAN SICE IT LIKE YOU, NO ONE THAT CAN PLAY THE TRUMPET OR STEP LIKE YOU. WE MAY MISS YOUR FACE BUT NEVER YOUR MUSIC IT WILL LIVE ON FOREVER!!
I HAVE TO HEAR "ONE ON ONE" AND "CAMAY ALL OVER" RE/SHORTY WHERE YOU PLAYING AT!!! RIP I LOVE YOU BENNY
10:09 pm
I KNEW LIL BENNY WAY BACK IN 1977 WHEN HE AND FAMILY LIVE ON 9TH AND WHALER PLACE LIKE AROUND CORNER FROM ME WE WENT TO SHCOOL TOGETHER ME AND MY BROTHER EHICH THEY MITE STILL KNOW HIM BY THE NAME DENNIS HAWKINS WHO PLAY BUT HE DONT ANY MORE TO THE FAMILY HE WILL BE MISS MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU
11:09 pm
My prayers go out to Little Benny's family. He will definitely be missed!! RIP Benny!!
11:25 am
R.I.P. BENNY..... THE HELICOPTOR HAS LANDED!!!!
12:18 pm
He just gave me a kiss on the cheek Wednesday, wow, my favorite saying is; "This is not a dress rehersal, this is it". Live and let live. I will miss this icon.
1:17 pm
I WAS READING TRIBUTE TO LIL` BENNY AND I CLOSED MY EYES. I COULD SEE THE TRUCK PULLING UP AND BENNY, A FEW OTHER BAND MEMBERS JUMPING OFF THE TRUCK, COMING IN OUR BACK DOOR, RUNNING UP THE STAIRS TO GET MY YOUNGEST BROTHER, MOE GENTRY TO GO SETUP FOR A SHOW. YOU WILL BE MISSED COOL CAT IN THE HAT.
3:44 pm
From God we come to God we return! My condolences goes out to the Harley family! I was hurt to hear of your passing and immediately called Kurt, to confirm it! I have been partying with you all since 11, with a older cousin, and I am now 43 and still get it when I hear old essence! I am and will forever be an old school essence fan!
So, rest in peace Benny!
5:21 am
i best remember lil benny when i met him to give him the original master of Cat in the Hat that was in a car that this company had repoed, it was a chance meeting because my brother ACKIE was the one who did the backyard video at the IBEX a long time ago, benny would come to his house and they would talk and make plans for shows, likw FREAKNIK and just doing shows in virginia at jimmys in culpepper to small spots in north carolina, he was a true person, i mean a real person not a person who felt he was untouchable in the area and music was his world, man he gonna truely be missed
12:01 pm
My prayers go out to your wife, childred, mother, brother and the rest of your family. I remember partying with RE back in the 80's on, catching buses, riding on the back of the eqip truck going from one venue to the next, me and my girls Shrell, Karen and Alice. Wow, those were the days. You will be missed but never forgotten.
R.I.P Lil Benny
12:18 pm
not from d.c. but have relatives there & i attended a hbc in n.c. w/many people from the dc area so ive been a go go fan 4 yrs & i dug benny as much as chuck, re, pleasure or any of the rest. r.i.p, u will always be remembered fondly.
1:17 pm
LITTLE BENNY USE TO BEAT HIS WIFE A LOT, NOT SAYING THAT HE WAS A BAD MAN BUT HE WAS A CRACK HEAD.......WHO WILL HIS WIFE FUCK NEXT, THE GROUP OR HIS BEST FRIEND
10:08 pm
words just cannot express what i am feeling right now, to hear that we lost lil benny, he was a unique voice in the gogo experience, i remember seeing rare essence at the atlas, cherry's, the coliseum, and first learned of the group at the basket ball court 14th and irving, so yes he will be missed. RIP lil benny
1:05 am
There will never be another like Benny. Though many have tried, many have attempted the original inner city sound of Washington, DC. Benny had it on lock. And once you saw Benny, especially during the early inner city groovers and early Rare Essence days, it would have blown you away.
I knew Benny from UDC, he knew me in the early days, as we would follow Essence from Northwest and meet up with other GO-GO heads that primarily came from DC’s inner city. Benny was a five star general for the golden era of GO-GO. Yes, Chuck was the alpha, and Sugar Bear and Big Tony were extraordinary, But Essence and Benny was the galaxy, the band that every one mentioned in one fell swoop. The RE groove. It revolved around Benny, and absolutely no one catch match him in his glory.
He could control crews, knew how to keep rivalries from brewing. He understood DC and the area soon took him under his wing. He shed light on South East Washington and her nuances. He bought the DC flavor and speech patterns into his sound, you can hear it in songs like…the one on one, get on the wagon, roll call, who comes to boogie down, cat in the hat, he was the master of call and response…when he would say,”syce them on up”…the whole crowd would just do as he asked.
He was Chuck, when Chuck wasn’t around. When Trouble and EU blew up. Essence was around; crushing what was left of the GO-GO scene. And nothing touched Essence; yes Essence was plagued with bad publicity for bringing the most hardened of DC’s inner city neighborhoods together. You can believe that nobody wanted to see the GO-GO end, and Benny in the early days could control the rivalries. When things got rowdy, you would always here Benny or Jasfunk, mention the word “Bama’s”, and they would play and crank even louder and harder.
Even during the drug war era, the PCP era…one of Benny’s song would include the chant…”What’s that fuss, I ain’t got no dust, what’s gonna set you back, I ain’t got no wack attack”…meaning you didn’t need drugs to listen to GO-GO…though GO-GO and drug use for many years went hand in hand.
But Benny kept it moving. And he never forgot where he came from. In 1979 when one of my crew members was killed, we asked Benny and Jasfunk to mention our killed friends name and dedicate the GO-GO to him, because he loved Essence and Benny so much. And Benny did it just like that. And it didn’t matter where he went in town outside of his beloved South East, we loved him for that, he was a regulator and a peace maker. There were very few who could command the respect of the audience like Benny. He would always say “now listen here”…that meant pay attention I am about to school you on what’s good about GO-GO. And when he asked you “where you wanna go”? You would know you were at the “GO-GO”.
It was big deal to back in the day just to get up the funds so that your neighborhood could rep itself at the “GO-GO”. Benny was a treasure and he should be remembered not just with his music, but with a foundation and a trust for future “GO-GO” musicians.
10:49 am
Friday June 11,2010 A 9a-11a Service will be held for Lil Benny @ the DC Convention Center section E
11:34 pm
ayy gay MAC
that's some coward shit to post slim, but on the real his wife was from SOUTHEAST, so I'm quite sure she wasn't a victim and if you are from DC you know it takes "MANAGEMENT" to tame a SOUFEAST chick!
With that said, no matter what his vices, weaknesses or indiscretions he was a GREAT MUSICIAN, BAND LEADER AND MATE, A GOOD MAN and a FATHER!!
Have some respect you clown!
NIGGERS ain't shit!
9:54 am
I met LiL Benny back in the 80's from Joe Clark and Dave Rueban they use to promote the go-go shows. Benny you were a sweetheart and will be missed. God shared you with us all you gave us a testimony threw your music and I just want to say job well done. R.I.P. (Big Mac If your living in a glass house don't throw no stones) Respect that man and his family. No matter what the good out weigh the bad,and we still loved him. So get some business asshole!!!
3:30 pm
R.I.P Mr. Benny
I was a little gurl when I first listened to Cat In Da Hat. Mt brothers were Chuck and Lil Benny fans and they got me into Go-Go at a young age. He was and still is the best that has ever done it. To the people that do not have anything good to say about Mr. Benny or his family should just leave their thoughts to their selves. You don't know how words really can hurt the family,friend and fans this mad has. I will Pray that Big Mac's family would not have to hear bad thigs about him when it is his time to go.
P.S. To Mr. Benny's family my prayers are with you all at this hard time. He Was and Still Is The Beast That Ever Did It.
7:59 pm
When I first came too DC. I didn't know about GO GO. I met EU AND CHUCK BRONW, RARE ESSENCE AND LIL BENNY. Once I saw LIL BENNY I Was hooK on GO GO for LIFE. His energy and his deep voice and he was sexy just made you want to get up and dance and shake all night. WE WILL TRULY MISS YOU LIL BENNY! RIP BENNY! GO GO FOR LIFE.
11:14 am
I didn't know Lil Benny personally, but I grow up listening to RE, Lil Benny & The Masters, Peace Makers, Trouble Funk, EU, Backyard, Reds In The Boys and Chuck just to name a few. I loved his music, his voice and the message his music sends. I always believe that there is a message in every song, if you just listen to the words.
To Mr. Anthony "Lil Benny" Hartley's wife, I say keep your head up and stay strong. God has your back and he watches over you and your family. He will not give you more then you can handle. As much as it may hurt that your life partner, best friend, confidant, lover and children's father is gone in the flesh, he is still with you in spirit and alway remember, you will meet again some day. So when you start feeling down and missing him, just remember that this is not the end, you will see him again.
You don't know me but if you ever feel like your heart is getting to heavy and you need to breath, or if you should every need to talk or just need to borrow an ear to listen, you can hit me up on amazingbodymagicparty@yahoo.com. I am an excellent listeners and would never betray you confidence. So, ignore comments. Some people just don't know any better and will down whatever they can to bring others down. Allow no one to still your joy. Your are God's child and he has your back so again stay strong and keep your head up because 99% of the comments that I have read, your husband left a very lasting impression on a lot people and he affected a lot of lives in a positive manner. You know they your funeral is when you can tell how many hearts you have touched and how many people really loved you. Well considering that there was over 1,000 people in attendance at Lil Benny's homecoming service, says to me that he was most definitely loved. A lot of people had mad respect for him and he obviously touched a lot of heart/lives. That is a tremendous accomplishment for a man so young and in the prime of his life. My condolenses go out to you and your family's. He will be missed but never forgotten. His legacy will live on. The pain and hurt of him missing him will take a while to go away, but I can promise you, in time it will get better. It may not seem like it right now but it will.
Peace and blessing to you and your family. REST IN PEACE, Mr. Anthony "Lil Benny" Hartley.
"For those who are using Lil Benny's death to lash out in a negative way by attacking him and is wife, I say, "THE DEVIL IS A LIAR and I REBUKE HIM IN THE NAME OF JESUS." People love to spread rumors and now is not the time for hateration. Obviously he loved his wife, he married her and she loves him. That's all that matters, so I say to you MR. BIG MAC, your comment was very out-of-line, disrespectful, and not necessary. You must have some serious animosity in you heart to post such filth.
I am sure his family is mourning right now and the comments you made are straight disrespectful at such a time when their hearts are heavy. No one has the right to tarnish he and his wife's name or make judgments but GOD. So I say to you back off, and don't block your blessing with foolishness. Repent and ask God for forgiveness."
Peace
3:35 pm
Pastor Deron Cloud said it best at Benny's funeral. You can't judge a man by what he has done in the beginning or middle of his life. We all make mistakes. BIG MAC what a heartless and disrespectful attempt to discredit this man. Nothing you can say will ever change the love and the way this city loves Lil Benny. The experiences and interactions will out weigh all the hate. Benny had a beautiful spirit regardless of his faults. The love he showed to family, friends, fans and to his music and city will life in our heart forever. Even in his death he still inspiring musicians. He has made is mark on this earth will you when your time comes.
Prayers continue to go out to his mother and wife, children and family.
R.I.P. Lil Benny we love you!
6:00 pm
Since leaving DC, I never lost touch with my true friends, and Lil' Benny was one of them. He touched my heart in ways that I never expected, from him and his wife getting married to trying to have a baby to me being the first person he called with the news - "Soldierette!, we're pregnant!" I just screamed and laughed with them because they tried and tried for that little precious gem they conceived.
Whoever the coward is that posted something about him beating his wife, your mother should be ashamed of you. Hatred is an ugly trait, and I can tell you first-hand, Lil' Benny steered away from haters, drama, and especially violence. He NEVER hit anyone. The last fight in his life was at a club where someone was hitting a young lady and Benny stepped in and asked the guy to stop. He was totally against domestic violence, so I'm here to say that you are a liar.
Needless to say, Lil' Benny left a legacy of good for the people of DC that loved him and his music. People miss him AND his music. Please think of his precious little baby, now just about 8 months old, growing up without her father. He loved that baby to death. He kept the baby every day after she was born while his wife went back to work. He wanted to get married, have a baby with his wife, and start fresh and new with his new found love. Any loving person can't find fault in someone chasing his dreams. They bought a home together, away from the fuss, where they found peace, love, and harmony in FAMILY times together. He was on the 2nd part of his adult life and loving it.
Please think of his new baby and, if you can, donate to her trust fund. Her mother set it up so that his child would not go without. His adult kids had him for many years, and all of the blessings that afforded them. The baby didn't have that chance; that blessing, to know how wonderful her dad was. She will know him through all of his fans and his music, and of course, everyone who loved him. Think of her when you think of him. She is a helpless little baby who looks just like her daddy.
Take care of yourselves, and those around you,
Solja~
10:47 am
September 26 is Little Benny's birthday. RIP