Biography
Grant Bentley, Singer/Songwriter/Actor
Grant is a three-time winner of the “best song” award given by the West Coast Songwriter’s Association (WCSA) and was a featured tenor in the Foothill College Chamber Singers from 1993-1995. Since 1997 he has released four independently produced CDs of his original songs (www.cdbaby.com/grantbentley). He also performed his original music as part of a multimedia production called “Impressions of Pakistan” held at the Pegasus Gallery in Bishop, CA. He has conducted songwriting classes at the Berkeley Free Folk Festival in Berkeley, CA and at Cerro Coso College in Bishop, CA.
He starred in the award-winning independent documentary movie "Sunblock" and wrote and performed the song "Moment in Time" heard over the closing credits. This film, about one man's quest to bring his family together to see the Great American Solar Eclipse that occurred in 2017, was shown at several film festivals on the West Coast and won the award for Best Oregon Documentary Film in 2019. He also co-wrote, with Dee DiGioia, the song "Peace for You and Me" which is heard over the closing credits in her short film "Which Team Will You Choose?". This film, which educates teachers, administrators and young people on how to address bullying in elementary schools, premiered in Mammoth Lakes, CA in September 2012 and is now shown at conferences on the topic throughout the western United States. Community theater credits include the Inspector in “Dial M for Murder” (2011) and Bob Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol (2010) for Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theater in Mammoth Lakes, CA. He has also performed the role of the son in “Trip to Bountiful” (2010), the oldest son in “Jacob and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (2009) and Professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man” (2008) for Playhouse 395 in Bishop, CA.
He is now a member of the songwriter community in San Diego, CA and attends numerous open mics and workshops with his fellow artists.