Rhiannon Afua "Rhian" Benson is a Ghanaian soul and jazz singer, songwriter, and composer. She was born in Accra, Ghana to a Welsh mother, who was a singer, and an Ashanti father, who was a guitarist. She was raised in Ghana, India, and the United Kingdom, where she eventually settled. Benson began playing piano and guitar and writing songs and poetry at an early age. Before pursuing a career in music, she attended the London School of Economics and gained a degree in econometrics. She continued her education at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Once back in the UK, she performed in small London clubs and was eventually discovered by a Los Angeles-based label, DKG Music. Benson moved to Los Angeles, California, where she currently resides, to record her debut album, Gold Coast, which was released in October 2003. She wrote all the songs on the album, composed the music on guitar and keyboards, and co-produced it with producers Bob Power and James Poyser.
