George Benson

Known for ActingBorn 1943-03-22 (age 83)Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, playing soul jazz with Jack McDuff and others. He then launched a successful solo career, alternating between jazz, pop, R&B singing, and scat singing. His album Breezin' was certified triple-platinum, hitting no. 1 on the Billboard album chart in 1976. His concerts were well attended through the 1980s, and he still has a large following. Benson has won ten Grammy Awards and has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Benson was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the age of seven, he first played the ukulele in a corner drug store, for which he was paid a few dollars. At age eight, he played guitar in an unlicensed nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, but the police soon closed the club down. At age nine, he started to record. 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", 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. Benson attended and graduated from Schenley High School. As a youth he learned how to play straight-ahead instrumental jazz during a relationship performing for several years with organist Jack McDuff. One of his many early guitar heroes was country-jazz guitarist Hank Garland. At the age of 21, he recorded his first album as leader, The New Boss Guitar, featuring McDuff. Benson's next recording was It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet, including Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone. Benson followed it up with The George Benson Cookbook, also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber on baritone and drummer Marion Booker. Miles Davis employed Benson in the mid-1960s, featuring his guitar on "Paraphernalia" on his 1968 Columbia release, Miles in the Sky before Benson went to Verve Records. Benson 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. 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 & Farrell (with Joe Farrell), both reached the jazz top-three sellers. 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. 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.Read more

Movies & web series

Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story

The Groove Under the Groove

George Benson - Absolutely Live

The Borgia Stick

Soundbreaking

Chet Atkins: A Life in Music

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

Lynda Carter: Street Life

Gorillaz: Reject False Icons

Where Are They Now?

Talmage Farlow

Numéro un

Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes

The Grant Green Story

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1976

Saturday Night Live

Better Nate Than Ever

Marcus

V.A. North Sea Jazz

Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Fusion Night

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

This Morning

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Jazz Open Stuttgart 2017 - Festival of World Stars and Child Prodigies

Quincy Jones & Friends - Live at Jazz Open Stuttgart

George Benson Live at North Sea Jazz Festival 2012

George Benson Live at North Sea Jazz Festival 2009

Tokyo Jazz Festival. vol.5

George Benson Live at North Sea Jazz Festival 2008

George Benson & Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux

Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

George Benson: Live At Montreux 1986

George Benson Live at North Sea Jazz Festival 2003

George Benson - Give me the night

The Genius of Lenny Breau

A Tribute to Miles Davis

Cilla Black's Christmas Eve

The People's Command Performance: '77