George Benson
Date of birth: 1943-03-22
Place of birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Known for: Acting
Also known as: George Washington Benson
Biography
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.
Movie Credits
The People's Command Performance: '77
1977-04-07
A celebrity lineup selected by a “specially conducted nationwide survey” entertains.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1978-07-21
A small town band makes it big, but loses track of their roots, as they get caught up into the big-t
Cilla Black's Christmas Eve
1983-12-24
Special featuring Cilla Black and her guests Frankie Howerd, Graham Fletcher, the Bee Gees, Julio Ig
Better Nate Than Ever
2022-03-15
13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams but there’s only one problem — he can’t even land a
George Benson - Give me the night
2000-01-01
Recorded at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast 2000. Featuring Joe Sample, The BBC Big Band & Members
Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
2022-10-21
The life and career of jazz musician Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history, featuring ori
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
1981-03-20
Jazz legend Count Basie and His Orchestra performs a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, with guest
A Tribute to Miles Davis
1991-10-16
Was filmed in October 16, 1991 at Expo '92. The concert is absolutely amazing! What a beautiful trib
Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark
2014-05-13
Take an in-depth look at the life and talent of the trailblazing musician who conquered racial barri
George Benson & Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux
2007-12-07
V.A. North Sea Jazz
2009-07-10
Tokyo Jazz Festival. vol.5
2008-08-30
George Benson: Live At Montreux 1986
2005-12-02
Recorded Live on July 18th, 1986 at "Montreux Casino", during the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerlan
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
1990-10-05
The extraordinary life of Quincy Jones -- one of the 20th century's most influential and talented co
It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
2018-07-02
A documentary about the legendary jazz label Blue Note Records and its German founders Alfred Lion a
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
2006-06-01
Live performances from a television music show that aired late night on the NBC-TV network the U.S.
Marcus
2015-01-24
Patrick Savey plunges us into Marcus's world, capturing the New York roots of the legendary bass pla
Jazz Open Stuttgart 2017 - Festival of World Stars and Child Prodigies
2017-10-12
Quincy Jones & Friends - Live at Jazz Open Stuttgart
2017-10-24
Back in 2017, at the Jazzopen Stuttgart Festival, the great Quincy Jones put on a show that elicited
Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Fusion Night
1991-10-16
Guitar Legends was a concert held over five nights, from October 15 to October 19, 1991, in Seville,
Talmage Farlow
1981-07-01
A documentary about the life and career of American jazz guitarist Tal Farlow
Lynda Carter: Street Life
1982-03-05
Lynda Carter stars in her fourth musical TV special with guests George Benson, Tony Orlando, and Fra
George Benson - Absolutely Live
2000-11-27
One of music's most magnetic performers, George Benson shines in this live performance. Recorder at
The Borgia Stick
1967-02-25
A suburban couple discovers that they are pawns for a powerful crime syndicate. They try to break aw
The Grant Green Story
2017-01-01
A son's search for his dad - the late jazz guitarist Grant Green. World Premiere at 2016 Harlem Int
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1976
1976-12-31
The Genius of Lenny Breau
1999-01-01
This documentary explores and celebrates the all-too-short, heartbreaking but triumphant life and un
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music
2000-09-16
A documentary that celebrates the life and career of musician and record executive Chet Atkins with