Eric Benét, the last romantic of American soul
Nearly thirty years after his debut, Eric Benét returns to the Paris stage for a one-night-only performance at the Élysée Montmartre on November 24, 2025, as part of his international tour The Co-Star Live Experience.
A singer, songwriter, and producer, Benét belongs to that generation of African-American artists who defended classic soul music at a time when the industry was surrendering to digital excess and superficiality. At 58, he continues to embody a rare ideal: musical sincerity.
“I believe in simple beauty. Not perfection, but truth,” he recently told Soul Tracks.
Eric Benét Jordan was born on October 15, 1966, in Milwaukee, into a middle-class African-American family. His father, a police officer and amateur saxophonist, and his mother, a church singer, passed down a dual education: discipline and faith. Benét remembers his home as a place filled constantly with music:
“We listened to Mahalia Jackson in the morning and Miles Davis at night.”
He formed a family group early on, Benét, with his sisters Lisa Jordan and George Nash Jr.
They performed gospel and funk in Wisconsin clubs. Those early years shaped his sense of collective artistry and his “organic” approach to sound: real instruments, vocal harmonies, emotional honesty.
But his life took a tragic turn in 1993 when his fiancée died suddenly, leaving him alone to raise their daughter India. The loss deeply marked his music. It gave birth to a more introspective writing style, where pain became prayer.
In 1994, Warner Bros Records offered him a contract. Two years later, his debut album, True to Myself (1996), caught the attention of R&B and acoustic soul enthusiasts.
Far removed from the formulaic productions of the era, Benét favored live arrangements, strings, and choir harmonies. The title track summed up his credo: stay true to yourself.
The album went relatively unnoticed commercially, but established his reputation as an authentic and demanding artist. Critics at Vibe magazine praised a singer “capable of blending sensuality and spirituality within the same musical phrase.”
His second album, A Day in the Life (1999), marked a turning point. The single “Spend My Life With You”, a duet with Tamia, reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and earned Benét a Grammy Award nomination. The song became a timeless ballad, still played at weddings across the United States.
Driven by lush orchestration and heartfelt lyrics, the album elevated Eric Benét to the rank of leading soul crooner. Essence magazine described him as “the natural heir to Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway.” His success rested on a simple formula: elegance, emotion, integrity.
The early 2000s were marked by sudden fame and a highly publicized private life. In 2001, Benét married actress Halle Berry. The couple became a target for the tabloids before separating in 2005. Benét later admitted to going through a period of confusion and emotional dependency. He chose to step away in order to rebuild himself.
That retreat led to Hurricane (2005), an album of introspection. Produced between Los Angeles and London, it revealed a calmer musician carried by lyrics about faith and redemption.
Critics praised the record as a sincere and understated comeback. “This album saved me,” he later told Blues & Soul Magazine.
In 2008, Love & Life confirmed his artistic rebirth. Recorded with real instruments, the album stood out in an electronic-saturated musical landscape. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best R&B Album” category. Songs such as “You’re the Only One” and “Chocolate Legs” combined sensuality, softness, and respect — an aesthetic Benét opposed to the vulgarization of contemporary R&B.
That same year, he began collaborating with singer Ledisi and producer George Nash Jr., further cementing his reputation as a craftsman of sound.
Released in 2010, Lost in Time was a tribute to 1970s soul music. Benét recorded the album on analog tape, with brass sections, strings, and gospel choirs. The project featured Faith Evans, Chrisette Michele, and Ledisi. Each song served as a declaration of love for classic African-American music.
“What I love about that era is the humanity of the sound,” he explained. “Nothing was filtered, everything was lived.”
Billboard praised the record as “one of the best contemporary soul albums of the last ten years.”
After leaving the major labels, Benét founded his own imprint, Jordan House Records, in partnership with Primary Wave and BMG (2020). The goal: produce music without compromise and support independent Black artists such as Calvin Richardson and Goapele. He openly claims complete artistic autonomy:
“I’d rather sell less, but speak the truth.”
This independence is accompanied by an educational commitment. His label funds songwriting workshops and scholarships for young African-American musicians. Benét also takes part in the Recording Academy’s Black Music Forever campaign dedicated to preserving Black sonic heritage.
In 2011, Eric Benét married Manuela Testolini, Prince’s former wife. The couple has two daughters, Lucia Bella (2012) and Amoura Luna (2015). Now based in Los Angeles, he divides his time between family, teaching, and performing. That stability nourishes his music. His recent albums blend serenity and maturity, with lyrics about gratitude, transmission, and inner peace.
His return to touring coincides with the release of his new project, The Co-Star, expected in late 2025. The lead single, “Can’t Wait”, a duet with Keri Hilson, illustrates this continuity between classicism and modernity: warm grooves, soul harmonies, and intact elegance. Released in April 2025, the track achieved major success on streaming platforms, strengthening his international fan base.
The European tour, titled The Co-Star Live Experience, includes only one French date: November 24, 2025, at the Élysée Montmartre in Paris, organized by Live Nation France. On stage, Benét will perform alongside his full live band, complete with brass, keyboards, and gospel backing vocals. The setlist promises a retrospective journey from True to Myself to Love & Life, punctuated with tributes to Donny Hathaway and Prince.
For Eric Benét, soul is not a genre, but a way of being in the world.
It expresses vulnerability, faith, and dignity. “It is music that uplifts the soul, not just the body,” he often says.
This philosophy runs throughout his body of work: a search for light through pain.
Benét sings about love, but also resilience. In a heavily formatted musical world, he embodies a gentle form of resistance: the resistance of genuine emotion.
Benét belongs to the lineage of great African-American singers who bridged sensuality and spirituality: Marvin Gaye, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Maxwell. Like them, he refuses any separation between profane love and intimate faith. His instantly recognizable voice serves as a bridge between generations.
Over the years, he has inspired younger artists such as PJ Morton, H.E.R., and Dwele, all of whom openly acknowledge his influence. Rolling Stone recently described him as “the last romantic of American soul.”
This return to Paris is no coincidence. The French capital has long maintained a special relationship with American soul music. Benét himself has often said:
“The Parisian audience listens with its heart. They understand this music because it speaks the truth.”
The Élysée Montmartre, a legendary venue for soul and jazz music, will therefore welcome on November 24 an artist at the height of his maturity, determined to deliver a concert “without frills, but full of soul.”
Eric Benét has never tried to follow trends. Instead, he chose to carve his own path slowly and consistently. His career is that of a craftsman: meticulous sound work, respect for tradition, honesty toward the audience. In 2025, while many artists disappear into digital noise, he proves that simplicity remains a strength.
His Paris concert promises to be a celebration: that of a peaceful Black soul, of a man faithful to his music. And perhaps also a final reminder: soul music is not dead as long as voices remain to embody it.
📍 Eric Benét live in Paris: the soul crooner returns to the Élysée Montmartre
📅 Date: November 24, 2025
📍 Venue: Élysée Montmartre, Paris
🎟️ Tickets: ELYSEE MONTMARTRE
💿 Latest single: “Can’t Wait” feat. Keri Hilson – April 2025
🎙️ Label: Jordan House / BMG
