Darren Jessee
Musical artist
Darren Michael Jessee (born April 8, 1971) is an American drummer, songwriter, singer and member of the rock bands Ben Folds Five and Hotel Lights. In 2014, Jessee joined Sharon Van Etten's touring band.Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in North Carolina, Jessee currently resides in Brooklyn. Ben Folds Five are known for energetic live shows and vocal harmonies. Jessee's drumming style has a strong jazz influence, from his longtime love of the genre. Referred to by WXPN's Bruce Warren as "Ben Folds Five's secret weapon", Jessee formed Hotel Lights in 2003 after many years writing songs, playing drums, and touring in the trio. In his own band, Hotel Lights have had their songs featured in hit TV shows (Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill) and a major motion picture Baby Mama. Ben Folds, on a recent iTunes Originals compilation, credited the Jessee-penned chorus for "Brick" as the missing element to a song that he had tried to compose for a long time, remarking "I've never understood a hit chorus. I wish I did."Darren can also be heard drumming on Josh Rouse's album Under Cold Blue Stars, released in 2002.
