Good Charlotte

Level 27 Clothing (owned by guitarist Billy Martin) (http://www.level27online.com). While Ben Harney unfortunately was neglected by commercial recording studios during his lifetime, in 1925 a folklorist recorded Harney singing an example of an early ragtime song on a dictaphone phonograph cylinder, and this recording has survived. DC Flag Records (also owned by the Maddens) (http://www.dcflagrecords.com). Ben Harney died of a heart attack in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Made Clothing (owned by the Maddens) (http://www.madeclothing.com). Harney quit touring after suffering from a heart attack in 1928. He was replaced with Dusty, who left the band before the recording of their second album, The Young & the Hopeless. As a result, Josh Freese plays on that album. He sometimes performed in blackface.

Escolopio left the band in early 2001 to join the band Wakefield with his brother. Harney's act included him playing piano, singing (including scat singing), and dancing. They soon moved to Annapolis and met Billy Martin through a mutual interest in the band Silverchair. Once ragtime became popular he started billing himself as The Originator of Ragtime or The Father of Ragtime, which most (but not all) of his contemporaries thought was an overstatement for the sake of advertising. They started the band in 1996 when they recruited childhood friends Paul Thomas (bass) and Aaron Escolopio (drums). Harney toured widely on the Vaudeville circuts in the USA, as well as tours of theaters in Europe and Asia. Frontmen Joel and Benji Madden grew up in the town of Waldorf, Maryland. In 1897 Harney published his book The Ragtime Instructor, the first comprehensive description of ragtime, with instructions of how to rag (add syncopated rhythms to) tunes, including giving written examples of ragged versions of light classics and opera songs.

The band is fronted by identical twin brothers Benji and Joel Madden, born in Washington, DC. That same year Harney was referred to in print as "the rag time pianist". They have had many singles, some of their more popular songs being "The Anthem," "Girls and Boys," and "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." They took their band name from a children's book, written by Carol Beach York. In January of 1896 Ben Harney moved to New York City, where he appeared regularly at Tony Pastor's Music Hall. Good Charlotte is a pop punk band, formed in 1996. Harney's tunes "You've Been a Good Old Wagon, But You've Done Broke Down", "Mister Johnson, Turn Me Loose", and "Cake Walk In The Sky" were big hits in the mid 1890s. The Chronicles of Life and Death (Epic Records) (2004). Some historians still debate Harney's ethnic background.

The Young and the Hopeless (Epic Records) (2002). Handy referred to him as "white". Good Charlotte (Epic Records) (2000). Johnson referred to him as a "Negro", while W.C. Chris Wilson: Drums (2003-Present). James P. Dusty: Drums (2001-2002). Harney was light skinned with red hair; early in his career he played with African American theater troops, but later in his career he represented himself as white.

Aaron Escolopio: Drums (1996-2001). Ben Harney is generally said to have been born in Louisville, Kentucky, although some sources put his birthplaces as Nashville, Tennessee. Paul Thomas: Bass. Benjamin Robertson "Ben" Harney (6 March 1871 - 2 March 1938) was a United States of America songwriter, entertainer, and pioneer of ragtime music. Billy Martin: Guitar. Download recording - "The Wagon" ragtime from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection (http://www.loc.gov/folklife/Gordon/sideBbandB4.html); performed by Ben Harney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on about September 9, 1925. Benji Madden: Guitar and vocals.

Joel Madden: Vocals.