Benmont Tench Biography: Songs, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Siblings, Age, Parents, Height, Ethnicity,

Benjamin Montmorency Tench III, known professionally as Benmont Tench, is an American musician and singer renowned as a founding member and keyboardist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Tench’s mastery of the piano and Hammond organ has defined the band’s sound, as evident in hits like “American Girl” and “Refugee.”

A prolific session musician, he has contributed to albums by artists such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, and the Rolling Stones, earning acclaim as one of rock’s most respected instrumentalists.

Profile

• Full Name: Benjamin Montmorency Tench III
• Stage Name: Benmont Tench
• Born: 7, September 1953
• Age: 71 years old
• Birthplace: Gainesville, Florida, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Producer
• Height: 1.83m
• Parents: Benjamin Montmorency Tench Jr. and Mary Catherine McInnis Tench
• Siblings: 1
• Spouse: Alice Carbone Tench (m. 2015), and Courtney Taylor (m. 1991–1999)
• Children: Catherine Gabriella Winter Tench
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $10 million

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Montmorency Tench III was born on September 7, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida, to Benjamin Montmorency Tench Jr., a circuit court judge, and Mary Catherine McInnis Tench.

The second of two children, he has an older sibling whose name is not publicly disclosed. Tench began playing the piano at the age of five, performing his first recital at six, and later explored the guitar, bass, and drums. Inspired by the Beatles, he shifted from classical lessons to rock and roll.

He attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and briefly studied at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he majored in art, before leaving to pursue a music career. His ethnicity is Caucasian, and his religion is not publicly documented.

Career

Benjamin Montmorency Tench III began his musical journey at the age of 11, meeting Tom Petty at a Gainesville music store and joining him in The Sundowners in 1964, where they practiced in the Tench family garage.

While at Tulane University, Tench sat in with Petty’s band Mudcrutch during a college break in 1971, leading Petty to persuade him—and his father—to leave school and join full-time.

Mudcrutch evolved into Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1975, with Tench’s soulful keyboard work shaping their debut album, featuring hits like “Breakdown” and “American Girl.” His early session work included playing on albums by Jackson Browne and Stevie Nicks.

Tench’s career with the Heartbreakers spanned over four decades, contributing to 14 studio albums, including Damn the Torpedoes (1979) and Full Moon Fever (1989), which solidified the band’s status as a leading rock act.

His songwriting earned two ASCAP awards for “Stay Forever” (1995, performed by Hal Ketchum) and “Unbreakable Heart” (2001, conducted by Jessica Andrews), while his co-written “Never Be You” (with Petty) became a #1 US Country hit for Rosanne Cash in 1985.

As a session musician, Tench’s keyboard parts graced records by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, U2, and the Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds (2023).

In 2008, he co-founded the supergroup Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.), releasing a self-titled album in 2009. Tench released his debut solo album, You Should Be So Lucky, in 2014, produced by Glyn Johns and featuring Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, and Ryan Adams.

In 2016, he reunited with Mudcrutch for Mudcrutch 2 and performed at tributes to Fleetwood Mac and Big Star. His second solo album, The Melancholy Season, released in March 2025, reflects an introspective period following Petty’s death in 2017 and the birth of his daughter.

Tench’s live performances, including with Phil Lesh & Friends in 2019 and the Watkins Family Hour, showcase his enduring versatility. His legacy as a keyboardist and collaborator continues to influence rock music, earning praise from peers and critics alike.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @benmonttench
• Facebook Handle: Benmont Tench

Personal Life

Benjamin Montmorency Tench III married Canadian model Courtney Taylor in 1991; they divorced in 1999. In 2015, he wed author and podcast host Alice Carbone Tench, and they welcomed their daughter, Catherine Gabriella Winter Tench, on December 16, 2017.

The family resides in Los Angeles, with Tench and Alice occasionally sharing glimpses of their life on social media. Following Tom Petty’s death in 2017, Tench credited his daughter’s birth with grounding him through grief. He enjoys a low-key lifestyle, often spending time in Italy and engaging with music and art alongside his family.

Discography

•    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
•    Damn the Torpedoes (1979, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
•    Hard Promises (1981, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
•    Southern Accents (1985, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
•    Full Moon Fever (1989, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
•    W.P.A. (2009, with Works Progress Administration)
•    You Should Be So Lucky (2014)
•    Mudcrutch 2 (2016, with Mudcrutch)
•    The Melancholy Season (2025)

Net Worth

Benjamin Montmorency Tench III’s estimated net worth is USD 10 million. His income primarily stems from his long tenure with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, including album sales, tours, and royalties from hits like “American Girl.”

Extensive session work with artists like Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, and the Rolling Stones, along with songwriting royalties for tracks like “Never Be You,” significantly bolsters his wealth.