Reggie Benjamin topped charts in India-now he's trying to crack the U.S. music market

"Here is an Indian singer who does not have the accent, or his hair parted at the side and greased down with coconut oil," says Reggie Benjamin, Columbia College Chicago alumnus (class of '97), son of a preacher-man, and India's first pop star. "There are a lot of behind-the-scene Indians here in the states," he continues, "like M. Night Shyamalan. But I want to put India in the forefront, and in a positive way."

Front and center in that plan is Reggie's debut album, 2X-Centrix, which is due to be released in the U.S. in February. With a sound that fuses Indian ragas and Western pop, the album was co-produced by Eric "E-Smoove" Miller, who has worked with Janet Jackson and Prince, with additional assist from Maurice Joshua, who also worked with Destiny's Child. The first single "Hurry Up" has been at the top of Indian, European and South American charts.

Known in India as Reggie "Raj" Benjamin, ("Raj" means "King"), the energetic musician started his label 2X Club Records with $110. It is now worth over $2 million. The socially committed Benjamin has launched the Hands 2 India Foundation, which provides monetary help toward India's water and environmental problems. Some proceeds from album sales will also go toward the Danny Pearl Foundation. His tour through India, Pakistan and possibly Afghanistan (far from his Hinsdale, Illinois residence) will be called The Danny Pearl Memorial Tour; Reggie and his group will pause for a minute of silence at every concert in memory of the murdered journalist.

Gravity caught up with Reggie just as he was flying off to Bombay for a four-day trip where he would network with Bollywood heavyweights (he may be acting in a movie there), record a few songs with India's number one artist Sonu Nigam, try to meet his idol Amitab Bachchan, and maybe, if he had time, visit his parent's place of origin in South India.

Gravity: Where do you work?
Reggie Benjamin: I have a studio close to my house. Twenty-five employees work under me, and I currently have five artists under my label. My brother and sister are involved in the business too.

G: What do you like to do when you aren't making music?
RB: I like to stay at home and watch cartoons, or sometimes go for a movie. I play ice and floor hockey too.

G: What do you listen to while driving?
RB: Prince, George Michael, Taal, Maxwell, Elvis, (and sometimes my own CD).

G: What are the moments before a performance like for you?
RB: My whole group gets together; we stand in a small group and pray. Also, I need to know what is going on with my family all the time. We are really closely knit. I need to have spoken on the phone with them at least, I find it hard to concentrate on my work if I have not spoken to them before a performance.

G: What was it like going back to India after a 22-year gap between visits?
RB: I got off the airplane, and started down the steps. A group of people was waiting at the bottom for me. I got about half way down, and then turned around and went back into the airplane. I couldn't deal with the smell! I said, "I am going back home." But later, once I got used to being there I loved it. There was that sense of coming home. And everyone there is so nice! I couldn't even press the button for an elevator - I'd start to and someone would be there doing it for me. They are really nice there.

G: What is a surprising fact about you?
RB: I'm a mama's boy! A lot of people look at me and think I'm this tough guy, but I still need my mom to give me my food! g

For upcoming performances and other news visit www.reggiebenjamin.com