Rebel
Entertainment was born in 1990 under the original name of Half Fast
Productions. It was a name Nickelodeon did not approve of but hey, Rebel
Entertainment is 'good enough' for us. The Rebels produced an adult
animation pilot for the Discovery Channel in 2000, originally titled
Ebb & Flo of the Universe. It aired as segment pieces called
Mr. Chi Chi's Guide to the Universe, but unfortunately, it was
never picked up as a series. They are currently working on another pilot.
Still in his teens, Benny Hester's first pop/rock self titled album,
"Benny" was readied for released in 1972. Although the warehouse
storing it mysteriously burned down and the album was never released
to the general market or radio, he gained valuable experience working
with industry veterans like Ron Tutt, James Burton, Joe Osborn, Larry
Mahoberac, and producer Brent Maher. He also learned from sitting behind
the console and watching sound engineer and VMI Record president Bill
Porter mix the live concerts each night for Elvis Presely. And thanks
to Bill, that's where Benny's band for his first album came from. Some
of those recordings made it to the "black market" and discount
bins all over the country.
In 1978 Benny recorded "Benny Hester", his
debut album on Sparrow Records. This proved to be a ground breaking
recording on the CCM music scene. For the first time ever traditional
CCM radio stations began to take the rock sound seriously. The single,
"Jesus Came Into My Life", was quickly embraced by CCM radio.
Benny's next album, "Nobody Knows Me Like You",
produced by Michael Omartian, is considered a classic. The title song
became one of the biggest selling of all time. In 1981, the single "Nobody
Knows Me Like You" went on to become the first contemporary Christian
recording ever to cross over to the pop charts and become a top forty
hit.
In 1985 Benny recorded "Benny From Here". It
was this album that produced one of the top ten singles in the history
of Christian music, "When God Ran". This song made an immediate
impact on radio and quickly became a number one hit. "When God
Ran" went on to become the longest running number one song of all
time. Simultaneously, Benny's "Secret Thoughts" was number
one on the Christian rock charts, making Benny the only CCM artist to
sweep the AC, CHR, and Rock music charts with number one hits at the
same time.
Benny has performed over 2,000 live concerts, recorded
four top ten albums, and had ten number one singles.
Benny has worked with: Michael Omatian, John "JR
Robinson, Neil Stubenhaus, Jeff Porcaro, Ron Tutt, James Burton, Abraham
Laboriel, Jim Horn, Maty Walsh, Brent Maher, Bobby LaKind, John Guess,
Carlos Vega, Aaron Zigman, Tim Heinz, Smitty Price, Tommy Funderburk,
Jerry Scheff, Glen Hardin, Joe Osborn, Larry Mahoberac, Dann Huff, Randy
Kerber, Alan Pasqua, James Raymond, Dan Posthuma, Maxine & Julia
Waters.
In 1992 Benny, as Executive Producer and President of
his own music and television production company - Rebel Entertainment,
along with his two partners produced the MTV Networks/Nickelodeon hit
show Roundhouse. The show ran for four years earning Benny nine
Cable Ace Award nominations from 1993 to 1996 - three as Executive Producer
for best "Variety Special or Series" and six for best "Original
Song". Benny won the Cable Ace Award for best "Original Song"
with "I Can Dream" in 1993.
The above Benny Hester bio was provided by Rebel Entertainment.
Adge's additional info:
Benny is the recipient of both Grammy and Dove awards
for his work as a Christian recording artist. He is a singer, producer
and a song writer. With his production company, "Benny Hester Music,"
he worked with MTV to write most of and produce all of the songs for
Rebel Entertainment's TV series, Roundhouse, which he co-created.
Benny is a co-founder of Rebel Entertainment and is responsible for
top Christian recording artist, Crystal Lewis' work on the show, as
well as the band's. The song "Can't Let Go" that Benny contributed
to for Roundhouse, won a Youth excellence award, for best original
song.
Benny still makes concert appearances here and there,
usually with the Christian band, Shaded Red. Benny is currently producing
and supporting the multitalented brothers who make up the rock band,
Indio. Indio can be heard playing on various nights at clubs along Los
Angeles' famous Sunset Strip. Benny met Indio when they arranged and
performed a cover version of Benny's mega hit, "When God Ran."
Birthday: May 3rd. Benny is currently married to Rita
Sheffield, another Rebel Entertainment founder. He has a son, Eric,
from another marriage. Eric is also a song writer for Roundhouse.
Buddy is a co-founder of Rebel Entertainment along with his ex-wife
Rita Sheffield and her husband Benny Hester. Buddy wrote the pilot for
Fox's In Living Color and served as the show's head writer
for years. Near the end of the series he worked as the writing supervisor.
He, Rita, and Benny went on to create Roundhouse, which premiered
in 1992 after seven years of planning. Buddy was considered the comedy
man of the team, but he also wrote many songs for the show. He was head
writer for the first three seasons and was co-executive producer for
it's entire run. For the fourth season he was the writing supervisor.
Buddy plans to continue to create other shows with the wonderful talent
and musical variety that Roundhouse has. Buddy and Rita have
also produced children's live theater in the Southeast US. A song that
Buddy and Benny Hester wrote for Roundhouse ("I Can Dream")
won a Cable Ace Award. Buddy recently wrote two screenplays (one with
Erin Ehrlich, Amy's sister) tentatively titled, Ticket to Ride
and Seatfiller.
Buddy and Rita have a daughter, Heather Sheffield. She
was also a staff writer for Roundhouse. Buddy recently remarried.
Rita is co-founder of Rebel Entertainment, with her husband Benny Hester
and her ex-husband Buddy Sheffield. She and Buddy have produced live
children's theater tours in the Southeast US. Some of the tours Rita
directed were called, "Beans," "Purr Zazz," and
"Bananas." "Bananas" was even performed at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, D.C. She also directed a short lived Broadway
show called "Cleavage." Rita, Benny and Buddy created Roundhouse
which they produced, and planned for seven years prior to its airing.
Rita directed 25 episodes and was responsible for assigning parts and
characters to cast members for all 52 episodes. She was also co-executive
producer for Roundhouse's entire run. Rita is also personally
responsible for "discovering" most of the cast! Rita has done
the art/title design and concept for many Benny Hester albums, and was
accredited with designing the visual style of Roundhouse in conception.
Rita was interviewed on Entertainment Tonight during Roundhouse's
first season.
She and Buddy have a daughter, Heather Sheffield. Her
favorite children's song is, "Climbing Jacob's Ladder."
Not a Rebel... but we feel he should get credit for
the creative process as well...
Barry is a very well respected dancer and choreographer. He's worked
with and done videos for; Michael Jackson, George Michael, Sting, Debbie
Gibson, Prince, Paula Abdul, Jody Watley, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams,
and others. He was a dancer in Disney's "Captain Eo" with
Michael Jackson, he was in many of Janet Jackson's videos including
"Nasty Boys" (choreographed by Paula Abdul) and "When
I Think of You," he was in Debbie Gibson's video "Electric
Youth" and also danced in and choreographed for the world tour.
He was in Prince's "Batdance," and he's staged and choreographed
world tours for George Michael and Jody Watley. He's also done videos:
"It's Real" for James Ingram and "Secret Rendezvous"
for Karyn White. Barry choreographed "Pleasure Principal"
for Janet Jackson, in which she had to dance alone throughout the video.
Barry discusses this in a 1991 PBS special titled, "Everybody Dance
Now." His work in "Pleasure Principal" won him an MTV
Award. Other choreography work: four Smothers Brothers television
specials, theme parks, and many commercials including an old style beer
commercial. He recently choreographed stage shows "House of Groove"
and "Retro-ACTIVE" for Paramount Parks and Royal Caribbean
Cruise Line. He's choreographed for Kristi Yamaguchi, Katerina Witt,
Brian Boitano and for many other ice skating events. And of course Barry
was the resident choreographer for Nickelodeon's Roundhouse.
He is currently a hip-hop/jazz instructor with Tremaine Conventions,
and he travels with the company to some cities. Barry is the recipient
of two Billboard Awards for choreography, one of them for Sting's video
"We'll be Together." Barry is also the recipient of the 2001
American Choreography Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television
for a Variety or Special, for choreographing the Miss America Pageant.
Barry choreographed the films; Super Mario Bros., National
Lampoon's Vegas Vacation, Blues Brothers 2000, Unconditional
Love, the TV series Nikki, and the upcoming films, Death
to Smoochy, and Who Shot Victor Fox. He is of the choreography
team that worked on the unaired Michael Jackson HBO special. (Includes
HBO interviews.) Barry helped Jamie King choreograph the 1996 Academy
Awards and was featured on Entertainment Tonight in the process.
He and Ivan also choreographed an event to honor Joe Tremaine put up
by the Professional Dancer's Society. Barry choreographed the upcoming
short film for Michael Jackson titled Ghosts! Also look out for
Barry's video series called Funk & Groove with Barry Lather
(3 volumes so far) which James Raymond wrote the music for.
He is married to Cari French, one of the original Fly
Girls on In Living Color.
You can reach Barry at:
Barry Lather
c/o Tremaine Dance Conventions, Inc.
14531 Hamlin St. #104
Van Nuys, CA 91411
