Sunday, August 10, 2025

A00123 - Benjamin Elisha Boyce, Amherst College Class of 1963, Kingston High School (Kingston, New York), Singer and Record Producer

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Ben Boyce

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Real Name:

Benjamin Elisha Boyce

Profile:

Ben (Born Dec 18th 1943, Died 1983) was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
He attended Goshen Central School, Kingston High School and was at Amherst from 1959-1962 where has was a member of Phi Gamma Chi and sang with The Zumbyes

Aliases:

Justin (7)

Variations:

Viewing All|Ben Boyce
Boyce








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Credits

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Credits

Cover of Give Up Girl / World Of TroubleGive Up GirlConnie Questell – Give Up Girl / World Of TroubleDecca1965
Cover of Something I Want To Tell You / Where Is The PartyJohnny And The Expressions* – Something I Want To Tell You / Where Is The PartyJosie1965
Cover of Ah Huh / So Long JohnnyKing George (5) – Ah Huh / So Long JohnnyRCA Victor1965
Cover of Straighten UpStraighten UpConnie Questell – Straighten UpDecca1965
Cover of Slave GirlJohnny Burton (3) – Slave GirlBroadway (2)1965
Cover of Boys And Girls Together / Give Me One More ChanceBoys And Girls TogetherJohnny And The Expressions* – Boys And Girls Together / Give Me One More ChanceJosie1966
Cover of Now That You're Mine / Shy GirlJohnny & The Expressions – Now That You're Mine / Shy GirlJosie1966
Cover of Don't Refuse My LoveThe Intrigues – Don't Refuse My LovePort Records1966
Cover of I'm Gonna Be Somebody, Someday / Drive On JamesI'm Gonna Be Somebody, SomedayKing George (5) – I'm Gonna Be Somebody, Someday / Drive On JamesRCA Victor1966
Cover of Tell Me What To Do / The Girl Can't Take ItTell Me What To DoConnie Questell – Tell Me What To Do / The Girl Can't Take It
(7", Promo)
Decca
31986
1966
Cover of What Can I Do / Right NowJustin (7) – What Can I Do / Right Now
(7")
Down East, Down East
DE 5341, DE 5342
1968
Cover of Right Now / The Place Where Sorrow HidesJustin (7) – Right Now / The Place Where Sorrow HidesDown East1969
Cover of Darling, I Need You NowDarling, I Need You NowThe Enchanted Five – Darling, I Need You Now
(7")
CVS Records, Inc.
CVS 1003
1970
Cover of Soul Class Of 66Give Up GirlVarious – Soul Class Of 66Kent Records1983
Cover of Le Beat Bespoké 4Various – Le Beat Bespoké 4Circle Records (6)2010
Cover of Can't Play A Playgirl (1960's Girl Goodies Lost & Found)Don't Let It Break Your HeartVarious – Can't Play A Playgirl (1960's Girl Goodies Lost & Found)
(CD, Comp, RM, Mono)
Teensville Records
tv1058, 459552
2022

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Died 1983

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Benjamin E. Boyce '63

Ben Boyce was one of the original five African American students admitted in the Class of 1963. He was an amazing fellow who unfortunately was not well understood by his classmates nor by me. I recall knowing him basically during our freshman and sophomore years since I believe he left Amherst during or shortly after our second year. I recall he struggled, like a lot of us, with the Math-Physics freshman year curriculum as well as second year Economics but he passed.

While we were not terribly close buddies, we had several things in common, among them was a love of jazz and blues music. In fact I helped defray some of my college expenses by leading a jazz/rock/blues band during sophomore thru my senior years. During sophomore year, I discovered Ben Boyce had a terrific voice. In fact he sounded very much like a young Otis Redding, able to hit all those high notes with real "soul" before "soul" became part of our vernacular. In no time, he was part of our band, our lead vocalist, which played most of the Amherst frat parties as well as occasional gigs at UMass, Smith, and Mt. Holyoke.  Ben Boyce was quite a showman, dancer, and had all the moves that would make him a star. Recognizing this we featured him up front and gave him the stage name "Dombala" which went along with his penchant for dressing in African garb with his clean shaven bald head. He understood how to entertain an audience. In fact  he was ahead of his time.

During those days we got to discuss many things up in my room on second floor of Valentine Hall. Ben, as I recall, was troubled by things. Maybe problems at home maybe problems with certain classes. I never knew for sure. Except by my junior year, I was shocked to learn that he had dropped out of Amherst. Not only did we miss him in the band, but we missed his wit and engaging personality.

May you rest in peace "Dombala" and keep sitting on the dock of the bay.

Leon Gibbs ’63

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Justin – What Can I Do / Right Now – Vinyl (7", 45 RPM), 1968 [r2680882] | Discogs

Justin – What Can I Do / Right Now – Vinyl (7", 45 RPM), 1968 [r2680882] | Discogs

Justin – Right Now / The Place Where Sorrow Hides | Releases | Discogs

Johnny And The Expressions – Something I Want To Tell You / Where Is The Party – Vinyl (7", 45 RPM + 2 more), 1965 [r5440993] | Discogs

Connie Questell – Straighten Up | Releases | Discogs

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Contact

Nickname

  • Ben

Family

No data available

Personal

No data available


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Professional

No data available

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Amherst

Reunion Class

  • 1963

Other Academic

Secondary Schools

  • Goshen Central High School
  • Kingston High School

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Amherst

Fraternity

  • Phi Gamma Chi

Extracurricular Activities

  • Amherst College Zumbyes

Post-Graduate

No data available

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Something I Want to Tell You

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Something I Want to Tell You"
Song by Johnny & the Expressions
Released1965
GenreR&B
Length2:45
LabelJosie Records
Composer(s)Ralph Meeks
Producer(s)Ben Boyce

"Something I Want to Tell You" was a 1966 hit single for R&B group Johnny & the Expressions.

Background

In 1965, "Something I Want to Tell You" was released on the Josie Records 45–946. The A side was composed by Ralph Meeks. The B side "Where Is The Party" was composed by Johnny Matthews.[1]

Chart performance

In its October 30 issue, Billboard reported that "Something I Want to Tell You" was a top DJ pick in San Francisco and Baltimore.[2] For the week ending February 5, 1966, the single was in the Top Sellers in Top Markets chart. The positions were 22 in New York, 19 in Philadelphia and 19 in Pittsburgh.[3] The single peaked in the Hot 100 at No. 79 on December 2, 1966.[4] It also peaked at No. 14 on the R&B chart.[5]

References

  1.  45Cat - Johnny And The Expressions - Discography, USA
  2.  Billboard, October 30, 1965 - Page 57 TOP R&B JOCKEYS PICK-OF-THE-WEEK
  3.  Billboard, February 5, 1966 - Page 14 Top Sellers in Top Markets
  4.  Billboard - Johnny and The Expressions, Chart History, Hot 100
  5.  Billboard - Johnny and The Expressions, Chart History, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

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Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Ben Boyce!

  1. 10-05-2010, 01:49 AM#1
    mark speck is offlineSenior Member
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    Ben Boyce!

    A lot of the tunes I've been diggin' on lately have this guy's name as a writer/arranger/producer...songs like "World of Trouble" by Connie Questell, "Boys and Girls Together" by Johnny & the Expressions and "Don't Refuse My Love" by the Intrigues. I believe he also recorded as Justin for the Down East label.

    So...what else has he done? I'm thinking Ben is like Van McCoy, but on a smaller scale.

    Best,

    Mark
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  2. 10-05-2010, 03:25 AM#2
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    Mark,
    .... Ben Boyce [[BENJAMIN ELISHA BOYCE) only has 14 songs registered with BMI and they include the 3 you name above plus one of the 3 Justin songs released on Down East.
    He wrote with the likes of CANNI QUESTELL & REGINALD OBRECHT [[REGGIE OBRECHT aka R C CHASE)
    -- BTW, Reggie also wrote songs in conjunction with the likes of JOSIE ARMSTEAD, AZIE MORTIMER, JOE & SYLVIA ROBINSON, etc.

    DOWNEAST SOUND publishing is still listed with BMI but there are no songs listed as still being registered under that concern.
    As Ben only wrote 1 of the 3 Justin songs, even though he produced these cuts I have my doubts about Justin actually being Ben. .... Where did this info come from ??
    I have the Justin[[e) 45 on UK Buffalo. I'll look the 45 out to see if the label lists any different info to the US Down East 45 labels.
    Attachment 1435
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  3. 10-05-2010, 03:29 AM#3
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    The other songs he has registered with BMI are ..........
    COME DANCE WITH ME; DARLING I NEED YOU NOW; DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART; GIRL LET'S STAY TOGETHER; GIVE UP GIRL; GONNA TAKE YOU BACK [[aka GIRL CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE); I'M GONNA BE SOMEBODY SOMEDAY; LOST IN THE NIGHT; SLAVE GIRL and TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

    If you do a song title search, it may come up with the artists who cut these songs.
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  4. 10-05-2010, 03:48 AM#4
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    DON T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART" & "TELL ME WHAT TO DO" were recorded by Connie Questelle.
    I guess artists such as Jay & The Americans plus Charles Brown could have been others who cut his songs [[though I think Charles Brown was out of LA so that may not fit).
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  5. 10-05-2010, 04:01 AM#5
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    Attachment 1436Attachment 1437
    She also recorded "Give Up Girl".
    As you can see, Reggie Obrecht was the orchestra director on these tracks.
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  6. 10-05-2010, 04:09 AM#6
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    "World Of Trouble" was co-written by Ben & Connie.
    ALSO I have no idea how it came about ....
    .... but Reggie Obrecht also wrote in conjunction with [[white) southern soul man Razzy [[of "I Hate Hate" fame).
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  7. 10-05-2010, 10:20 AM#7
    mark speck is offlineSenior Member
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    John--It was stated on Greg Tormo's Solid Hit Soul site that Ben was Justin...been awhile since I saw that page, so I can't recall for sure, but I think that's what he said.

    Was also listening yesterday to "Tell Me What to Do"...that's a cool track as well. I've seen Reggie Obrecht's name on a lot of stuff, but I never knew he and Razzy Bailey were associated in any way. Good stuff! Thank you!!

    Best,

    Mark
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  8. 10-05-2010, 10:25 AM#8
    mark speck is offlineSenior Member
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    Just revisited Greg's page...he says that Ben Boyce did record as Justin, and also that he and Reggie Obrecht are brothers!

    He mentioned a couple of other artists that Ben and Reggie were involved with: Chuck Flamingo on Rojac and King George on RCA.

    Best,

    Mark
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  9. 10-05-2010, 12:16 PM#9
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    I know "So Long Johnny" by King George on RCA [[though I have never had a copy myself).
    My fave King George RCA cut though is the other side of "Drive On James", which is "I'm Gonna Be Somebody".
    I had a mint UK copy of that but sold it to Paul Temple many years back. All I have now is a 'far from mint' US version of the 45.
    I'll have to look it out to see if Ben's name appears on it anywhere.
    RE: Greg's info on Justin. I should think that this info would be correct as Greg was just about the 1st person to find copies of Justin's "The Place Where Sorrow Hides" in any number. I wouldn't be suprised if he contacted Ben Boyce at that time.
    Thats a funny 45 as different collectors chase the various variations of it. The NS crowd love "The Place Where Sorrow Hides" most as it has a '4 Tops dancer' feel to it but others want the issue copy that doesn't have this cut on either side for the 'superior' version of "Right Now". Yet others much prefer the 3rd track to escape on copies of the 45; "What Can I Do".
    I never did figure out which version of "Right Now" features on the UK version of the 45 but I believe its the 'sought after' version.
    Last edited by jsmith; 10-05-2010 at 12:26 PM.
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  10. 10-05-2010, 01:35 PM#10
    jsmith is offlineSenior Member
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    I was 'mixed up' with regard to the Justin tracks.
    It's "Right Now / The Place Where Sorrow Hides" that are on the UK released 45.
    The '4 tops styled' dancer is "What Can I Do" [[which I don't have -- it was the US 45's that feature this cut that Greg found a number of).
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  11. 10-05-2010, 09:10 PM#11
    mark speck is offlineSenior Member
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    "Slave Girl" is the tune by Johnny Burton on Broadway...I was listening to it earlier today on YouTube.

    Best,

    Mark

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