Benny Mardones

Benny Mardones
Benny Mardones
	Mardones in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Ruben Armand Mardones
Born	November 9, 1946; Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	June 29, 2020 (aged 73); Menifee, California, U.S.
Genres	Brown-eyed soul; soft rock;
Occupations	Singer; songwriter;
Years active	1978–2017
Labels	Polydor; Curb; Warrior;

Ruben Armand "Benny" Mardones (November 9, 1946 – June 29, 2020)^[1] was an American pop/rock singer and songwriter who was best known for his hit single "Into the Night",^[2] which hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice, in 1980 (#11) and again in 1989 (#20).

Early life and career

Benny Mardones was born on November 9, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, Ruben Sr., who was originally from Santiago, Chile, left the family when Benny was an infant and returned to Chile. Mardones had a sister, two half-brothers, and two half-sisters who live in Chile.

Mardones grew up in Savage, Maryland, and graduated from Howard High School in Ellicott City, Maryland in 1964. He joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served in the Vietnam War. After his discharge, he moved to New York City to pursue his singing and songwriting career, and composed several songs with writing partner Alan Miles.

Mardones began his career as a songwriter, writing songs for people like Brenda Lee and Chubby Checker. He demoed the songs he wrote, and Tommy Mottola suggested that he record his own songs; from that point he wrote and recorded over 100 songs. Mardones's band was called the Hurricanes.

Into the Night

Mardones co-wrote the 1980 soft rock hit "Into the Night" with Robert Tepper. The track was featured on his second album Never Run, Never Hide, and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went platinum. Its success catapulted Mardones into the limelight, but he spiraled into substance abuse that resulted in his being dropped by his label Polydor Records. Though he eventually overcame his addiction, Mardones produced no other hits during his career.

In a TV interview on KTLA Mardones recalled how the song was inspired by a conversation between him and co-author Robert Tepper, after seeing a 16-year-old neighbour take Benny's dog for a walk. In the real life scene, there was no romantic link. (YouTube video)

"Into the Night" charted a second time in 1989 when Phoenix, Arizona radio station KZZP ran a segment titled "Where Are They Now?", and Scott Shannon, then-program director for Pirate Radio in Los Angeles, added "Into the Night" to its playlist. Other stations across the country followed suit and "Into the Night" was a hit once more, peaking at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Curb Records signed Mardones and he recorded "Into the Night '89", The track appeared on his self-titled release that year.

Personal life and death

On October 4, 2011, Mardones married his third wife, Jane Braemer, who was originally from Denmark. Together, they resided in Menifee, California. Mardones had a son, Michael (born 1985), from a previous marriage.^{[citation needed]}

Mardones was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000, but continued to tour and perform until the mid-2010s. In July 2018, he underwent deep brain stimulation to reduce his motor symptoms, but complications from multiple surgeries resulted in coordination issues that led to repeated falls and hip injuries. He died at age 73 from complications of the disease on June 29, 2020.^[1]^[3]

Discography

Studio albums

1978: Thank God for Girls
1980: Never Run, Never Hide
1981: Too Much to Lose
1985: Unauthorized
1986: American Dreams (Benny Mardones & the Hurricanes)
1989: Benny Mardones
1993: The Lost Tapes
1996: Stand By Your Man
1998: Bless a Brand New Angel
2002: A Journey Through Time
2006: Let's Hear It for Love
2015: Timeless (Benny Mardones & the Hurricanes)

Live albums

2007: Turning Stone Live 2006
2008: Extended Versions (Live)
2008: Turning Stone Live 2007
2009: Turning Stone Live 2008
2010: Turning Stone Live 2009

Extended plays

1980: Live Sides
1985: Unauthorized
2013: The Lost Tapes

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions					Album
Year	Single	US ^[4]	US AC ^[5]	AUS^[6]	CAN^[7]	NZ^[8]	Album
1970	"Stand and Be Counted" (released as Troy)	—	—	—	—	—	Non-album singles
1970	"Then Go" (released as Troy)	—	—	—	—	—
1972	"Please Say You Want Me" (released as Troy)	—	—	—	—	—
1972	"If You Gotta Break Another Heart" (released as Troy)	—	—	—	—	—
1978	"All for a Reason"	—	—	—	—	—	Thank God for Girls
1980	"Into the Night"	11	—	19	12	29	Never Run, Never Hide
1980	"Hometown Girls"	103	—	—	—	—	Never Run, Never Hide
1981	"Sheila C."	—	—	—	—	—	Too Much to Lose
1989	"Into the Night"	20	20	—	—	—	Benny Mardones
	"I Never Really Loved You at All"	—	—	—	—	—
	"I'll Be Good to You"	—	—	—	—	—
1993	"Two Worlds, Two Hearts"	—	—	—	—	—	The Lost Tapes
1995	"Dream Baby"	—	—	—	—	—	Stand By Your Man
1996	"It's All in the Game"	—	—	—	—	—
1996	"Stand By Your Man"	—	—	—	—	—
1999	"From Me to You"	—	—	—	—	—	Bless A Brand New Angel
	"Everything That Touches You, Touches Me"	—	—	—	—	—
	"Bless a Brand New Angel"	—	—	—	—	—
2002	"I Need A Miracle"	—	30	—	—	—	A Journey Through Time
2003	"I Know You By Heart" (Katrina Carlson with Benny Mardones)	—	25	—	—	—	Untucked (Katrina Carlson album)
2003	"I Want It All"	—	25	—	—	—	A Journey Through Time
2004	"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (featuring Tamara Walker)	—	—	—	—	—	A Journey Through Time
2006	"Into the Night/Da Heat of the Night" (Conrad Hilton featuring Benny Mardones)	—	—	—	—	—	Non-album singles
	"I Believe in Miracles"	—	—	—	—	—
	"United We Stand" (featuring Teresa James)	—	—	—	—	—
	"Please Say You Want Me"	—	—	—	—	—
	"The Train Don't Stop Here Anymore"	—	—	—	—	—	Let's Hear It for Love
2011	"Forever Hypnotized"	—	—	—	—	—	Let's Hear It for Love
	"Please Say You Want Me"	—	—	—	—	—	Non-album singles
	"And Tomorrow Means Another Day That We're Apart"	—	—	—	—	—
	"Into the Night/Da Heat of the Night" (featuring Conrad Hilton)	—	—	—	—	—
2012	"I've Got You"	—	—	—	—	—
2012	"Into the Night (2012)"	—	—	—	—	—
2015	"Where Angels Fly"	—	—	—	—	—
2016	"Christmastime in Syracuse"	—	—	—	—	—
2017	"No Words for Love"	—	—	—	—	—	Bless a Brand New Angel

References

^ ^a ^b "'Into the Night' Singer Benny Mardones Dies at 73". Variety. June 29, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
^ Grein, Paul (May 7, 1989). "Old Records Are New Hits". Los Angeles Times. p. 76. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
^ Unterberger, Andrew (June 29, 2020). "Benny Mardones, 'Into the Night' Singer, Dies". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
^ "Benny Mardones Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^ "Benny Mardones Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 191. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Item: 252 – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^ Steffen Hung. "charts.nz – Benny Mardones – Into The Night". Charts.nz. Retrieved February 5, 2019.