With the 1976 release Breezin', Benson sang a lead vocal on the track "This Masquerade" (notable also for the lush, romantic piano intro and solo by Jorge Dalto), which became a huge pop hit and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Records, a whole new audience began to discover Benson. Problems playing this file? See media help.īy the mid-to-late 1970s, as he recorded for Warner Bros. Title track sample from George Benson's Breezin′ album Benson played on numerous sessions for other CTI artists during this time, including Freddie Hubbard and Stanley Turrentine, notably on the latter's acclaimed album Sugar. Benson also did a version of The Beatles's 1969 album Abbey Road called The Other Side of Abbey Road, also released in 1969, and a version of "White Rabbit", originally written and recorded by San Francisco rock group Great Society, and made famous by Jefferson Airplane.
His 1974 release, Bad Benson, climbed to the top spot in the Billboard jazz chart, while the follow-ups, Good King Bad (#51 Pop album) and Benson and Farrell (with Joe Farrell), both reached the jazz top-three sellers. Miles Davis employed Benson in the mid-1960s, featuring his guitar on "Paraphernalia" on his 1968 Columbia release, Miles in the Sky before going to Verve Records.īenson then signed with Creed Taylor's jazz label CTI Records, where he recorded several albums, with jazz heavyweights guesting, to some success, mainly in the jazz field. Benson followed it up with The George Benson Cookbook, also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber on baritone and drummer Marion Booker. Benson's next recording was It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet, including Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone. At the age of 21, he recorded his first album as leader, The New Boss Guitar, featuring McDuff.
One of his many early guitar heroes was country-jazz guitarist Hank Garland.
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As a youth he learned how to play straight-ahead instrumental jazz during a relationship performing for several years with organist Jack McDuff. Luckily, after he spent time in a juvenile detention centre his stepfather made him a new guitar.*īenson attended and graduated from Schenley High School. When this was found out (tied with the failure of his single) his guitar was pounded. Benson's introduction to showbusiness had an effect on his schooling,just as he stated in an interview. Out of the four sides he cut, two were released: "She Makes Me Mad" backed with "It Should Have Been Me", with RCA-Victor in New York although one source indicates this record was released under the name "Little Georgie", while the 45rpm label is printed with the name George Benson.The single was produced by Leroy Kirkland for RCA's rhythm and blues label, Groove Records. At the age of eight, he played guitar in an unlicensed nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, but the police soon closed the club down. At the age of seven, he first played the ukulele in a corner drug store, for which he was paid a few dollars. Benson has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.īenson was born and raised in the Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His concerts were well attended through the 1980s, and he still has a large following. His album Breezin' was certified triple-platinum, hitting no. He then launched a successful solo career, alternating between jazz, pop, R&B singing, and scat singing. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt.Ī former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, playing soul jazz with Jack McDuff and others.
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He began his professional career at 21 as a jazz guitarist. George Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter.