Who is Reggie Benjamin, people say………….Well, all roads lead to the Grammy’s for Chicago-based Reggie Benjamin known as the “First Indian Pop Artist in America.” Everything is going his way and it typically does for the hyper-focused singer and musician. In fact this enterprising talent has worked diligently to carve out his own niche in the dance club scene throughout the Midwest and overseas.

“I grew up on Gospel music, Stevie Wonder and Prince,” says Reggie. “Their music somehow defines an era and is still timeless. That’s the music that informs my own fusion pop sound.

Forming “The Reggie Benjamin Band” in 1983 when he was in junior high, Reggie and the group stayed together through high school, playing schools, colleges and talent shows, and somehow managed to avoid playing weddings and bar mitzvahs. Reggie put together his next band immediately out of high school. With “R.P.M.” he moved quickly from all covers to all original songs, successfully playing the region college circuit through Illinois, Indiana and Western Michigan.

But merely doing well wasn’t enough for the determined Benjamin, so he hooked up a new plan, one designed to get R.P.M. a steady gig at Elixir, one of Chicago’s hottest clubs. Armed with the knowledge that Thursdays are the slowest night in dance clubs, he approached Elixir’s owner and offered to play on Thursday’s, guaranteeing that R.P.M. would pack the crowds in or the owner wouldn’t pay them. In the meantime, Reggie and the band quietly papered the local university campuses and legions of R.P.M.’s fans from all over the area followed them to the club. It wasn’t long before R.P.M., featuring Reggie Benjamin, was the house band at Elixir, drawing standing room only crowds.

“I’m sure he was certain we wouldn’t sell even half the house,” remembers Reggie. “The great thing was that I already knew that we could reach a lot of people who were already fans…I just didn’t know that we could pull them out on a school night!”

But success hasn’t spoiled Reggie Benjamin. Positioning himself to break as a solo artist, he recruited top producers/re-mixer, all Grammy Winners and nominees and recorded his first album, “Reggie Benajmin,” which will be released in 2004. “Hurry Up,” the album’s first single, has already climbed the charts in more than 24 countries, and in 1 day sold 38,000 copies. Reggie directed the “Hurry Up” video, which includes scenes and footage shot at the Playboy Mansion. His second single, “Ride” was only release to the underground clubs and started at #4 on the Billboard Breakout Dance Charts, “Ride” is currently at top 10 hit in over 30 countries on the dance charts

Billed as the first Indian pop star, Reggie’s five-year master plan includes delivering a Grammy acceptance speech.

“It’s a goal I’ve had ever since I saw my first Elvis video when I was six. I immediately knew I wanted to be an entertainer,” he laughs. “In this country, anything is possible.”

Reggie’s parents – and dedicated Elvis fans – were born and raised in India and emigrated to Toronto, Canada where he was born. They came to the U.S. when Reggie was nine and he officially became an America citizen in 1997.

“I’ve had the best of all worlds, but it was important to me that I become a citizen of the country that is my home,” says Reggie. “You might say that I exchanged a lifetime of Canadian national health care for the American Dream.”