George Benson
| George Benson | |
|---|---|
George Benson performing in Madrid, 2009
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| Background information | |
| Born |
March 22, 1943 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1954 (as little George Benson) 1964–present |
| Labels |
Prestige Records (1964–65) Columbia Records (1966–67) Verve Records (1968) A&M Records (1968–70) CTI Records (1971–76) Warner Bros. Records (1976–94) GRP Records (1995–2005) Concord Records (2006–present) |
| Associated acts | Jack McDuff, Earl Klugh, Al Jarreau, Joe Farrell, Count Basie Orchestra, McCoy Tyner, Joe Sample, Fuse One, Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian |
| Website | Official website |
| Notable instruments | |
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Ibanez GB10 Signature Model Ibanez GB200 Signature Model |
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George Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter. He began his professional career at 21 as a jazz guitarist. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt.
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. He has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Benson was born and raised in the Hill District in 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 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 10, he recorded his first single record, "She Makes Me Mad", with RCA-Victor in New York, under the name "Little Georgie".
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 going to Verve Records.
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Wikipedia