Benjamin Doleac

A native of New Hampshire, Ben Doleac received his Master's degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta in 2011 and is currently pursuing a PhD in the same field at the University of California, Los Angeles. His master’s thesis, “Ready to Spread?: P-Funk and the Politics of Signifyin(g),” addresses utopianism, rhetorical play and coded political commentary in the music and mythology of George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, Ben has performed in groups that range from gospel and madrigal choirs to the University of Alberta's MENAME (Middle Eastern and North Africa Music Ensemble) and UCLA’s mariachi band. He is presently conducting research on drumming traditions and contemporary brass band music in New Orleans.