Fellow Flatlander: Ben Arnold



Ben Arnold, who is naturally veiled in a shroud of mystery, was born in a hospital in Ohio in 1979. His parents prefer not to be mentioned in anything connected with him.

He spent too much time in college, attending Ohio University, The University of Tennessee and Boston University. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Music, Percussion Performance. Ben is currently working on a Doctorate of Musical Arts, Music Education. He lived in Athens, Ohio and Knoxville, Tenn. before moving two years ago to Itta Bena, Miss., where he says he is having "good times" and "living the dream."

Ben is actually a music teacher at Mississippi Valley State University and a ridiculously talented percussionist who can tear up a drum kit. If you do not make a concerted effort to hear him playing in "Jazz Trio," oftentimes at The Blue Parrott, you are probably a worthless waste-of-space with no musical taste. And yes, he refuses to actually name "Jazz Trio," about which I berate him consistently. His fellow performers are Jerome Green on bass and MVSU concert band director Michael Torregano on piano, who is also incredible.

Bens says he also plays lead electric triangle.

1. First car: 1988 Ford Thunderbird
2. Favorite food: Pizza
3. Favorite album(s): The Beatles, "Revolver," Aretha Franklin, "Live at the Filmore West," Bright Eyes, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" and Bob Dylan, "Highway 61 Revisited"
4. Coolest road trip: Athens, Ohio to Parkersburg, West Va.
5. Favorite book: "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac
6. Worst date: All of them (sad but true).
7. Favorite beverage: Diet Pepsi
8. Sport(s)? Best album Huey Lewis and The News ever made
9. Alter ego: Awesöme McRöcken
10. Embarrassing nickname: I hope not, although the peeps have taken to calling me White Chocolate, which is slowly growing on me.
11. Religion? I am a member of the church of Beatleology...It doesn't have as many good-looking people in the congregation as Scientology, but it's way more hip.
12. Significant other? No
13. Famous for: Looking like Brad Pitt's assistant's third cousin. It's true, look it up.
14. Hobbies: No, I'm pretty boring.
15. Random information: I openly dislike Michael McDonald.

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