Together in Harmony: The Ben & Val Thomas Duo
Ben and Val Thomas have discovered that some of the strongest musical partnerships are built on more than shared melodies. They are built on friendship, family, and a willingness to make music together through every chapter of life.
The husband-and-wife duo from Socorro has been performing together for roughly 24 years and has been married for 23. Their musical partnership began soon after they became a couple, bringing together two people raised in families where music was already an important part of everyday life. "Well, we got married."
For Ben, music was practically a family tradition. His father and grandfather were musicians, and that influence naturally became part of his own life. "So I grew up as a musician. My dad was a musician, is a musician. My grandfather was a musician. And it's just kind of, we've always been musically inclined."
Val came from a slightly different musical environment, but singing was just as deeply embedded in her upbringing. "I grew up in a whole family full of singers."
She has been singing since she was about five years old, growing up surrounded by family harmonies. In fact, one childhood experience made her realize just how unusual her family's approach to music might have been. "I always tell the story that when I was 13, I went to a birthday party. And everybody started singing Happy Birthday. And it was the first time I'd ever heard it, not in four-part harmony."
Her reaction was one of genuine disbelief. "And I was absolutely shocked. I had no idea that you didn't sing Happy Birthday in harmony. What is this?"
It is a funny story, but it also offers a glimpse into the musical foundation that helped shape the duo. For both Ben and Val, music wasn't something they discovered later in life. It was part of their upbringing. Today, that shared musical background has become part of the sound they create together.
Their partnership extends well beyond performing, however. The couple also works together at New Mexico Tech, where they are part of the Office of Research Compliance and Safety. That means the pair spends an extraordinary amount of time together. "We actually work together as well in our daytime jobs."
Asked how they manage to balance marriage, work, and performing together, the answer comes down to the relationship they have built over more than two decades. "It helps that we're best friends. I mean, it really does."
They complement one another in nearly every aspect of their lives, a reality that they acknowledge with a sense of humor. "So yeah, we complement each other in almost every facet of our lives. And it's codependency."
The correction comes quickly, accompanied by another laugh. "Healthy codependency." That chemistry is part of what makes their performances so engaging. There is an ease that comes from knowing the person standing beside you on stage, as well as knowing the person sitting across from you at home.
Musically, Ben and Val aren't interested in limiting themselves to a single genre. Their philosophy is refreshingly simple. Everything." "If we like it, we play it."
Their repertoire spans decades and styles, from jazz standards from the 1920s to music that continues into more contemporary eras. "We play jazz standards from the 1920s all the way up to Chaperone."
That wide musical range allows the duo to create a performance experience that isn't predictable. Instead of building their identity around one particular genre, they follow the music they enjoy. "If we like it, we play it."
Of course, enjoying a song and performing it are two different things, particularly when it comes to working out the musical arrangements. "And as long as I can figure out the chords."
That willingness to explore different styles has become one of the duo's defining characteristics. Their performances can move from one era or musical style to another while maintaining the rich harmonies central to their sound.
Their upcoming performances provide another example of that versatility. On September 4, Ben and Val Thomas are scheduled to perform at Box Canyon Brewing as part of Ben's birthday celebration, which falls on September 6. Rather than keeping the celebration private, the couple is inviting audiences to join them. "We're just going to invite everybody to come down and have a good time."
The performance will also feature their band, Fuzzy Logic, with a set built around rock hits from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, along with a little music from today. "That sounds like fun." "It's really, really fun."
For a couple who have spent more than two decades making music together, the enthusiasm still seems genuine. Their musical partnership hasn't become routine; they still enjoy sharing it with audiences.
To follow Ben and Val's performances, the duo can be found online under Ben & Val Thomas Music on Instagram and Facebook. Val also maintains a YouTube channel, although she admits that it could use a little attention. "All the social media that needs love," Val admits.
The couple continues to use Facebook as one of its primary ways of sharing upcoming performances, with Val creating posters and spreading information about their gigs. "I try to post on our Facebook group the most when we have gigs. I make posters. I try to spread it around."
Something about the Ben and Val Thomas Duo's musical journey feels particularly fitting. Their story isn't simply about two musicians who discovered they could perform well together. It is about two people whose lives have become intertwined through music, work, marriage, friendship, and the simple joy of performing songs they love.
They have spent 25 years together, 23 of them married, and nearly all of that time making music side by side. Their repertoire may span nearly a century of music. Still, the heart of their performance remains timeless: two people who enjoy singing together and inviting others to share in the experience.
And perhaps that's the secret to making a musical partnership last.
When asked what they play, the answer is simple. "If we like it, we play it," and when they play, they clearly love it.
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