Ben Scales in farewell concert at the Hyatt

Singer and songwriter Ben Scales will hold a farewell concert for his fans and supporters this Thursday, March 3, at the Chinese Restaurant of the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

“As many of you know, Cate, the girls and I have been back on Saipan for the past few weeks,” Scales said in a letter to 300 of his fans and friends on Saipan.

Scales and his family will return to their Asheville home in North Carolina, but before they leave, he thought: What better way to pay tribute to fans and friends but through a concert?

Scales lived on Saipan from 1993-2003, but is back on the island for an extended stay with his family.

His “Acoustic Guitar Concert” highlights Scales’ music that has spanned 10 years. Along the way, he has garnered a reputation as an extraordinary concert performer and accomplished singer in festivals all over the world.

From 1993 to 2003, Scales performed at venues all over the Marianas and jammed with local bands such as The Tourists and Makani.

In concerts at the American Memorial Park, Scales opened up for KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, and Kapena, to name a few. Scales performed regularly at the Pacific Island’s Club, Pacific Gardenia, Rudolpho’s, Oleai Beach Bar & Grill, Len’s, and Coffee Care. Scale’s television credits include being the musical co-host of the “Eye on the CNMI” television show on KMCV, and he wrote and performed the theme music for that show. Scales also co-wrote and produced the hit single “Who Got Da Pugua?” which is featured on the Visitor’s Channel on channel 3 on MCV. Scales was the first local performer to play at the Hard Rock Café Saipan. Scales was also a regular performer at the Flame Tree Arts Festival.

After 10 years of steady gigging throughout the western Pacific—from Guam to Hawaii and all points in between—Scales relocated to Asheville, North Carolina, and last year released the CD Letter From God. This collection of tunes contains several songs that have been No. 1 hits on Internet radio, including Shell Loves Me and After You Let Go.

But his biggest hit so far has been Growing Marijuana In My Yard, a humor-based political anthem, which has been downloaded over 200,000 times. The song has garnered Scales international attention and invitations to perform for over 50,000 people at the Boston Freedom Rally, and at the NORMAL conference in San Francisco, where High Times senior editor Steve Bloom called Ben’s performance “the musical highlight of the conference.” Most recently, Ben’s recording of Growing Marijuana will be featured in the upcoming documentary film Escape to Canada, slated for release in late 2005.

Scales said his farewell concert would be an intimate event held in a small room with limited seating. He is advising the public to come early to be sure of a seat. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are priced at $10 per person.

Scales will also be selling a limited number of his CD Letter From God, which was recorded on Saipan.

The CD features collaboration with the Johnson brothers, Ezra and Kaliko, on Who Got Da Pugua as seen on The Visitor’s Channel and Scales’ hit single Growing Marijuana In My Yard.

“[It’s] kind of an agricultural theme, you might say,” he said.

Scales is inviting everyone to come and see him in his farewell concert at the Hyatt Thursday for a night of brief recollection of the past 12 years of his great music on the island.

The Chinese Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency is an intimate setting for this concert, guaranteeing Ben’s friends and fans a musical experience you will enjoy and long remember. Call 670-256-4605 for directions or more info. (Marconi Calindas)