Ben Harney Quotes

United States, Songwriter
March 6, 1872 – March, 2, 1938.

Benjamin Robertson "Ben" Harney (March 6, 1872 – March 2, 1938) was an American songwriter, entertainer, and pioneer of ragtime music. His 1895 composition "You've Been a Good Old Wagon but You Done Broke Down" is regarded as one of the early ragtime composition. In 1924, the New York Times wrote that Ben Harney "probably did more to popularize ragtime than any other person." Time Magazine termed him "Ragtime's Father" in 1938.

Also known as Entertainer

I left acting in the summer of 1988 because I was unhappy with a lot of the irresponsibility that was going on in the entertainment industry.

Ben Harney
- Summer
There are other people in 'Dreamgirls' who are born-again Christians. We have a Bible study class once a week. It was started by Charles Bernard and myself. We meet at the theater.

Ben Harney
- People
- Study
- Bible

I realized my calling was to use the arts and ministry to help young people.

Ben Harney
- People
- Help
When you think of the people who were important in your life, prettiness was not a factor. They might have been old, fat and toothless - but they were there.

Ben Harney
- People
- Life
- Important
God gave me everything I have.

Ben Harney
- God
I was excited to hear others talking of God. Most people in show business have some strong spirituality but don't talk about it openly.

Ben Harney
- People
- God
- Business
We are living in a culture where we are so led by the visual, and what is promoted in the media, that the attitude becomes, 'I don't have to go through normalcy in life - I can look for exemptions. And I expect them, and when I look for them and they are not there, I am angry.'

Ben Harney
- Life
- Culture
- Attitude
I reached a point where - I have a real heart and concern for families and for youth, and the more I became involved in working through a ministry, the more I realized how powerful the entertainment industry was and how irresponsible it was.

Ben Harney
- Real
- Heart
- Powerful

I was making $150 a week in workshop. It was a rough year. I had trouble paying the rent. But I had evenings free to spend with my wife, Olive, and our baby daughter. In terms of family-building, it was one of the most blessed years of my life.

Ben Harney
- Life
- Family
- Free
I won't do anything demeaning to what I stand for.

Ben Harney