By Minnie Stephenson

The audience roared with applause after Benny Roman performed his original song, “Lullaby For My Baby” at his first musical guest appearance for Maryland Night Live in 2019. With the spotlight on his face and water bottle at arm’s length, Roman took a deep exhale before playing his next chord.

Roman still remembers that day, when he sang to a sold-out crowd of 500 people packed into a tiny room at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, all of them sweating from the lack of air conditioning.

“It’s hard to capture that energy again,” he said.

Benny Roman is the alias for Ben Friedman, 21, a senior double major in philosophy and government and politics who is also a staple of the University of Maryland music scene. That musical guest appearance at MNL’s first show in 2019 was Roman’s first big gig — at least since second grade.

After performing on the street and online earlier in the pandemic, Roman led the way in UMD’s return to live shows as soon as COVID-19 guidelines permitted. Although Roman is not looking to pursue a career in music, his singing and songwriting talents are drawing the attention of more and more students.

Roman said he wanted a stage name after learning that his dad, Eric, went by the nickname “Woody” in college. He chose the last name Roman because of his interest in mythology. Plus, Benny just flowed better than Ben, Roman said. 

Professors still know Roman as Ben Friedman, while friends and fans call him Benny.

“There’s a fair amount of people who don’t know I’m one or the other,” he said. 

Musical theater and singing had been part of Roman’s life since he was in elementary school. But basketball was his main focus until he was injured in his senior year of high school. 

The injury meant Roman had to find a new hobby. He posted a video of himself singing on Instagram, and the feedback he received was so encouraging that he started teaching himself to play the guitar. 

Roman’s first performance as a teen was during the summer before his freshman year at UMD. He played the guitar for an audience of three people at a retirement home near his hometown in Bethesda, Maryland. 

“I get there, I’m sweating, I’m falling apart,” he said. 

Looking back, Roman said he has gained confidence. 

“It’s funny to me because now I don’t really get nervous at all.”  

Roman sings at events on and off campus, and he busks — another word for street performing — around Washington.

One of Roman’s most frequent collaborators is Rails Comedy, a production company run by 26-year-old Walker Green, a former UMD student. Rails Comedy produces variety shows around Washington and College Park. It was founded as a way for students to keep performing with each other after leaving UMD, Green said.

The company is relatively new, so they take their shows wherever they can, Roman said. One venue near Nationals Park, Bardo Brewing, sticks out to him — not in a good way. 

“It was literally a junkyard,” Roman said. “There was nobody there.” 

Roman has also been the musical guest for the Saturday Night Live-inspired MNL at every one of its seven shows since it was started. Green said Roman has been invited back by the organizers but still auditions every time. Green said he admires his friend’s musical talent, but he also appreciates his personality behind the scenes.

“In entertainment there’s a lot of divas,” Green said. “Benny’s one of the most humble people I know.”

Green founded MNL with spring 2021 graduate Sammy Garcia in 2019. Their friend, senior theater major Justine Morris, has assisted with production as stage manager and a director.

The trio said they first met Roman at musical guest auditions for the inaugural MNL in May 2019. He sang “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney and the Wings. Roman’s friends said they were impressed by his talent before they got to know him. 

“The way he plays it was better than how Paul did it,” Green said. 

Roman cites Paul McCartney and The Beatles as his creative influences, along with Bob Dylan. He practices a variety of songs for every set, but The Beatles’ “In My Life,” and “Yesterday” are two favorites. Roman said he has at least 30 songs in his repertoire for street performing as well. 

Roman doesn’t just do covers. He writes his own music too, and simple phrases spark his imagination. Once, he overheard his mom say “If I ever get to California” on the phone with his sister. Roman said he liked the sound of the phrase, and it inspired him to try new chords and lyrics. It became the draft of a song. Now, he has singles and an EP out on streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.

Roman said he puts his studies above anything else. Still, even if performing is just a hobby, Roman said he always tries to make time for it — no matter how hard that can be.

 Morris said she was impressed by Roman’s ability to balance school and shows.

“Somehow he is just always free to perform at any point in time,” Morris said. 

Roman’s parents support their son and attend his shows, though Green said Roman’s mom prefers that her son focus on his studies.

“He performs more than his mom would like him to,” Green joked. 

Roman said he thought he could make it in music years ago, but he no longer has a strong desire to be famous. Now that he is close to graduating, Roman said he plans to go to law school or pursue a doctorate in philosophy. 

Garcia said he has bonded with Roman over conversations about political hot takes and whether Ariana Grande is as influential as the Beatles. 

“You’ll never meet a bigger Benny fan than me,” Garcia said. “I’ve never seen somebody do it like him. I’ve always tried to do it like him.” 

The recent graduate said he always believed Roman would get wider recognition.

“I thought, any road to fame, any road success would be on his coattails. So if I could be holding his suitcases when he gets on the plane to LA, I would do it,” Garcia said.

His graduation is approaching, but Roman said he would never abandon performing and wants to have music in his life in one way or another. Friends said he will leave a lasting impression at UMD.

“Seeing Benny’s growth from when I met him in spring 2019 to now is awesome,” Morris said. “I’m so happy for him.” 

Featured image: Benny Roman performs with Rails Comedy at The Hall CP in College Park, Md., on Oct. 10. He is a self-taught guitar player and produces his own music. Photo by Minnie Stephenson.