Eric Benét facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric Benét
Eric Benét, "The Co-Star" album photoshoot, April 24, 2025
Born	Eric Benét Jordan (1966-10-15) October 15, 1966 (age 58) Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Education	Bradley Tech School
Occupation	Singer-songwriter musician
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Halle Berry ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2005)​ Manuela Testolini ​ (m. 2011)​
Partner(s)	Tami Stauff (1988–1993; her death)
Children	3
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul, neo soul
Instruments	Vocals, piano, guitar, keyboards
Labels	Jordan House Primary Wave Music EMI Reprise Friday Warner Bros. Gerard
Associated acts	George Nash Jr. Lisa Jordan Somethin' For the People

Eric Benét Jordan, born on October 15, 1966, is a talented American R&B singer, songwriter, and musician. He is well-known for his soulful voice. Eric Benét has been nominated for four prestigious Grammy Awards for his music.

Eric Benét's Early Life and Education

Eric Benét was born in Mobile, Alabama, on October 15, 1966. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the youngest of five children. From a young age, Eric loved music. His father, who was a police officer, encouraged him to go to college. He wanted Eric to have a "stable" job.

Eric graduated from Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School. He started college but later decided to leave to follow his passion for music.

Eric Benét's Music Career

Eric Benét started his music journey in the late 1980s. He was part of a group called Gerard. Later, Eric formed a band with his sister Lisa and cousin George Nash Jr. They called their band Benét. In 1992, they released an album with their band's name. It sold over 100,000 copies!

Solo Albums and Hit Songs

In 1994, Eric Benét signed with Warner Bros. Records. He released his first solo album, True to Myself, in 1996. This album had several popular R&B songs. These included "Spiritual Thang," "Femininity," and "Let's Stay Together." "Let's Stay Together" was also on a movie soundtrack.

His second album, A Day in the Life, came out in 1999. It featured his huge hit song, "Spend My Life With You" with Tamia. This song reached number one on the US Billboard R&B charts. It stayed there for three weeks! The song also earned a Grammy Award nomination in 2000. The album itself won a Soul Train Music Award.

New Labels and More Hits

Between albums, Eric worked with other artists. He sang on a song called "Act Like You Want It" in 1997. In 2001, he recorded a song for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD. He also started working on a new album. However, his record label did not want to release it. They wanted him to stick to R&B music.

Because of these disagreements, Eric left Warner Bros. He then signed with Reprise-distributed label Friday Records. His third album, Hurricane, was released on June 21, 2005. The song "I Wanna Be Loved" was played a lot on the radio. It reached number two on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart.

His fourth album, Love & Life, came out on September 9, 2008. It was very successful, reaching number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This was his highest chart position since A Day in the Life. The first song from this album, "You're the Only One," was also a top 20 R&B hit.

Recent Music and Collaborations

Lost in Time was Eric Benét's fifth album. It was released on November 30, 2010. The first song, "Sometimes I Cry," became number one on the Hot Adult R&B Songs Chart. This album was a tribute to the sweet soul music of the 1970s. It featured duets with artists like Faith Evans and Ledisi.

On June 5, 2012, Eric released his album The One. This was the first album released on his own new record label, Jordan House Records. "Real Love" was the first song from The One. In 2013, The One won him the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Award for Best Male Vocalist. This album had three big hit songs: "Runnin'," "Real Love," and "Harriett Jones."

In 2014, Eric Benét also released an international album called The Other One. He worked with a European music group called The Afropeans on this project. Later that year, he released an album of classic cover songs in Japan. In April 2016, he announced a new song called "Sunshine." His eighth studio album, Eric Benét, was released on October 7, 2016. It featured guest artists like Tamia and MC Lyte.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric Benét started an online show called Eric @fter Dark. On April 25, 2025, a new song called "Can't Wait" was released. It was a collaboration with Keri Hilson.

Eric Benét's Acting Roles

Besides music, Eric Benét has also been an actor. He had a repeating role on the TV show For Your Love from 1998 to 2002. In 2001, he made his first movie appearance in Glitter. This movie was loosely based on singer Mariah Carey's early life.

In 2005, he appeared on the show Half & Half. He played a character named Reece Wilcox. He also had a repeating role on the 2007 MTV show Kaya. On July 9, 2011, Eric Benét's second movie, Trinity Goodheart, premiered. It later aired on GMC. In 2013, Eric appeared on the TV show Real Husbands of Hollywood. He was a guest star alongside Kevin Hart and Bobby Brown. In 2022, he appeared in the movie Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story.

Eric Benét's Family Life

Eric Benét has three daughters. His oldest daughter, India Brianne Jordan, was born on December 3, 1991. Her mother, Tami Stauff, sadly passed away in a car accident in 1993.

Eric married actress Halle Berry in January 2001. They separated in October 2003 and their divorce was finalized in January 2005.

On July 31, 2011, Eric Benét married Manuela Testolini. She is the ex-wife of the musician Prince. Eric and Manuela have two daughters together. Lucia Bella was born on December 21, 2011. Their second daughter, Amoura Luna, was born on July 13, 2014.

Eric Benét's Albums

• True to Myself (1996)
• A Day in the Life (1999)
• Hurricane (2005)
• Love & Life (2008)
• Lost in Time (2010)
• The One (2012)
• From E to U: Volume 1 (2014)
• Eric Benét (2016)
• The Co-Star (2025)

Awards and Nominations

Eric Benét has received many awards and nominations for his music and acting.

Black Reel Awards

Grammy Awards

NAACP Image Awards

See also

In Spanish: Eric Benét para niños