Benson Family Singers

The Waseca Art Center hosted the Benson Family Singers on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Bensons are a family music group from Faribault who describe their set as “a unique ministry consisting of barbershop, bluegrass, and gospel music.” The Bensons sing a capella, and also play a variety of instruments. The performance space upstairs in the Art Center was filled to capacity, with about 70 listeners present.

The Benson Family Singers consist of seven members. Parents, Peter and Rachelle; their four sons David, 22, Aaron, 20, Luke, 18,  and Paul, 11, as well as their daughter Keziah, 8. Onstage Saturday night audience members were treated to the upright bass, played by Peter; fiddle, played by Rachelle; mandolin, played by Luke; banjo, played by David; and guitar, played by Aaron and also briefly by David. The group performs nationwide – they began a national tour in 2020, and reached four southern states before having to return home in March. Many of their performances are in churches, but they also play music festivals, theaters, and other venues. Peter, who comes from Hartland, said the space in the Waseca Art Center was unique to him, and that he enjoyed having the audience in closer quarters where everyone could hear each other.

Asked how the family got started as a family band, Peter said, “Well we live together, so that helps.” He went on to explain that he had a background in music – both participating in barbershop quartets, and through choral direction – and he'd always dreamed of having a quartet with his sons. From there, the family grew and picked up other music styles. They started bluegrass after attending a family bluegrass festival, which they now return to regularly as performers.

Members of the Benson Family Singers don't limit themselves to music. Aaron enjoys magic, and demonstrated the skill onstage Saturday night. The show also had its comedy aspects. Keziah's first appearance onstage was for a round of “Pickin' and Grinnin',” as seen on the TV show “Hee Haw.” When David, Aaron, Luke and Paul took center stage for the first barbershop quartet number of the evening, Peter warned the audience they'd be singing a “hot, steamy love song,” garnering laughter all around when the boys broke out into “I love coffee; I love tea.” Following intermission, the family performed “Icy Roads,” a “Johnny Mankato” version of the well-known song “Country Roads”; before closing the night, Aaron, Luke and Paul sang “Things You Don't Say to your Wife,” to the tune of Green Day's “Good Riddance,” another gutbuster for the crowd. These comedic moments came interspersed between both slow and upbeat gospel, bluegrass and barbershop music.