Benny Blanco

American producer Benny Blanco was born in Northern Virginia. He first started making music in his bedroom, rapping over his own beats, which eventually earned the attention of executives. Blanco was mentored by songwriter and producer Dr. Luke and, under his tutelage, co-produced and co-wrote many songs for famous artists, such as Katy Perry, Kesha and Britney Spears. In 2011, he took the lead on the production and writing of some of that year's most recognizable hits, from Maroon 5 to Gym Class Heroes. His work earned him the Hal David Starlight Award at the 44th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. Since then, he has amassed 29 total number one songs, being nominated Producer of the Year at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards. His own debut album as a lead artist, "Friends Keep Secrets" (2018), full of collaborations with other famous artists, was a commercial success, and he has since founded two labels, Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets.