(Not affiliated with BET's Sunday Best singing competition)

Twinkie Clark / Shirley Murdock / Kelly Price / Yolanda Adams / Take-6 / Gerald Albright / Marion Meadows / Kirk Whalum / Fred Hammond / John P. Kee / Paul Jackson, Jr have all experienced being featured on a Ben Tankard Production.  You or your favorite local artist or musician could be NEXT!.  Everyone has a favorite "church musician" that they have told " You are great,...you need to record a record ". Now this their chance to see!  One solo instrumentalist and One solo vocalist will be selected to appear as a special guest on Ben Tankard's NEXT CD "Shine".  His current CD "RISE"  topped at #1 on Billboard SmoothJazz chart, was nominated for Stellar Award, Dove Award, and NAACP Image Award and is currently heavy rotation on all formats including :  

Weather Channel, Music Choice, Sirius XM Watercolors ch 66.

Have a friend or loved one that you believe has talent?  YOU CAN SPONSOR them to enter the contest for just $99.  See contest rules on next page.

Ben's Partial Wikipedia Bio:   

Ben Tankard s an American Gospel/Smoothjazz musician, producer, reality-tv Dad, author and motivational speaker from Daytona Beach, Florida. His instruments include the synthesizer, piano, tuba, drums, guitar, and percussion. Often referred to as the "Godfather of Gospel/Jazz", his instrumental music has bridged the gap between two genres and charted at #1 Billboard Smooth Jazz and Gospel Charts. Standing 6'6" tall, he is a former professional basketball player (shooting guard).

Tankard's father was a minister and his mother a missionary. In church, he played drums at an early age. He played tuba in school and received a basketball scholarship. Although he was selected in the NBA draft, he hurt his knee before the season started. During a period of homelessness, he went to church and was inspired by a revival service to turn his life around. He began playing keyboards and spent several years working as a dogcatcher to make ends meet. He was hired by a music store as a keyboard demonstrator where he learned about arranging and record production. Tankard developed a small home studio and released his first album, "All Keyed Up" on Atlanta International Records in 1989 winning a gospel Stellar Award for new artist of the year. He followed with Keynote Speaker (Tribute, 1990). He has worked with Gerald Albright, Twinkie Clark, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Shirley Murdock, Kelly Price, and Take 6.

Tankard discovered a third-grade school teacher named Yolanda Adams and signed her to his indy Tribute label. He produced her albums Through the Storm, Save the World, More Than A Melody, and Yolanda... Live in Washington. They collaborated on over 40 compositions. He credits her voice for helping to bring his production style and keyboard playing to a large audience. 

• All Keyed Up (1990) - f/Terrion Nelson, Anita Franklin
• Keynote Speaker (1990) - f/Angie+Debbie Winans
• Keys to Life (1991)- f/John P. Kee
• An Instrumental Christmas (1991)- f/Denny Jiosa
• Sunday Drivin (1993)- f/Roger Cooper
• Play Me in Your Key (1994)- F/ Yolanda Adams
• Instrumentally Yours (1996)-f/Fred Hammond and RFC, Take-6
• Git Yo Prayze On w/Tribe of Benjamin (1997)- f/Tribe of Benjamin
• Raize Da Praise by Tribe of Benjamin (1999)- f/Tribe of Benjamin
• The Minstrel (1999)- f/Cassandra Robertson
• Christmas Love (2000)- f/Michael Rippoll
• Song of Solomon (2001)- f./Cassandra Robertson
• Play a Lil' Song for Me (2003)-/Harvey Watkins & Ctn. Spirituals
• Piano Prophet (2004)-f Shirley Murdock
• Let's Get Quiet: The Smooth Jazz Experience (2007)- f/Shelly
• Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (2009)- f/Shelly, Tribe of Benjamin
• Full Tank (2012)-f/Tim Bowman,Take-6,Gerald Albright, C.Jones
• Thicker Than Water-The Church Picnic (2013)- f/BT Band
• Full Tank 2 (2015)-f/Kirk Whalum, Paul Jackson,Jr, M.Manson, Nicholas Cole, Shirley Murdock
• Full Tank 3: CanTANKerous (2017)- f/Gerald Albright, Cord Martin 
• Rise! (2018- f/Marion Meadows, D.Williams, 1Luv
• Shine (2021)- f/Sunday's Best Musician

(Pictured:  Ben and Jewel Tankard, Yolanda Adams, Cora Jakes at Stellar Awards)

<<<<<-----Contest Runs from May 17, 2020 to July 1,2020----->>>>>

(Not affiliated with BET's Sunday Best singing competition)

Send a short bio and a performance or production  link of ONE SONG  via MP4/MP3, Facebook, YouTube or IG to us along with your entry fee of $99.   30 year career experienced successful music veteran Ben Tankard will review your performance/production and give you a written critique of your submission. The top 3 submissions in the INSTRUMENTAL category and top 3 submissions the VOCAL will go before a panel judges including  Ben Tankard and several other industry professionals.  ONE Instrumentalist and ONE Vocalist will be selected as grand prize winners to be FEATURED Ben's next CD "SHINE" due out in 2021.

Winners will also be part of the taping on an episode of  the next season of Ben's family Reality TV show. 

FAQs: (WHAT, WHEN, HOW)

WHAT is Ben Tankard's SBM contest?

Sunday's Best Musician is a SONG on BT's next CD "SHINE"

SBM  contest s a promotion by Ben Tankard to provide and inspire and expose new instrumental talent. As the TOP Gospel musician in the world for the past 30 years and the most awarded gospel/jazz artist of all time , he is using his platform to "shine" the light on new talent on his next CD "Shine". Early Entry fee is $99 to submit a demo performance of 3min or less. 

WHEN does the contest START and END?

Registration for the first round is now open.  Deadline to submit your entry is July 1, 2020.  Early bird Entry fee is $99.

WHERE   do I send my submission?   

Email to :   BenTankard@aol.com. 

Short bio and pic, Mp4/Mp3 or link to social media post (FB/IG/YouTube).  3 minute time limit. We will notify of your submission received and you will be sent your review within 2 weeks.

How do I pay my $99 Submission Fee:    

CashAPP:  $bentankard  OR paypal.me/bentankardmusic/99  

Make sure you put in the comment section the NAME of the contestant (especially if they are being sponsored).

What if I miss the July Early bird deadline?

Initial early bird deadline is July 1 @ $99 entry.   Second deadline is Aug.1  @ $199.   Final deadline is Sept. 1  @ $299.

Does my song have to be original or copyrighted?

No.  We are judging for performance and skill only.  We are not looking for songs, we are looking for Sunday's Best Musician.

Is there an age or experience requirement?

NO. Any age and any experience level is welcome,

What Do I Get For My Entry Fee  Investment?

You get professional advice from someone who has performed over 3,000 concerts that has 15 Gold and 6 Platinum records on his wall, has earned 16 Stellar Awards, 3 Grammy Nominations, 10 Dove nods, and a Soul Train and Image Award nomination and has 30 years of music industry experience. Even if you DON"T win the contest, the information he will give is worth 10 times your entry fee. ALL ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Can I enter more than once?

Absolutely, but each entry is for one ONE performance and each entry must include a $99 entry fee. 

What advice can you give NOW as I prepare my submission?

BE YOURSELF--EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN.

When will winners be announced ?

November 1, 2020

"SHINE" CD will be recorded Dec-March and released 2021.

Can I get more information?

Yes. Simply email us at: BenTankard@aol.com.