George Benson

George Benson

Born: March 22, 1943
in 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. ...

Source: Article "George Benson" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for George Benson...

Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
Title: Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
Character: Self
Released: October 21, 2022
Type: Movie
The life and career of jazz musician Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history, featuring original concert footage and insights from jazz icons.
bee
Better Nate Than Ever
Title: Better Nate Than Ever
Character: George Benson
Released: March 15, 2022
Type: Movie
13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams but there’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. When his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to the Big Apple for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside-down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams.
bee
It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
Title: It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
Character: Self
Released: July 2, 2018
Type: Movie
A documentary about the legendary jazz label Blue Note Records and its German founders Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff. As jews they had to flee Germany and the Hitler regime in the late 1930s. In New York they wrote music history with their record label Blue Note Records.
bee
Quincy Jones & Friends - Live at Jazz Open Stuttgart
Title: Quincy Jones & Friends - Live at Jazz Open Stuttgart
Character: Self
Released: October 24, 2017
Type: Movie
Back in 2017, at the Jazzopen Stuttgart Festival, the great Quincy Jones put on a show that elicited many rapturous standing ovations from the capacity crowd. To kick things off, the seventy musicians of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and the SWR Big Band step out onto the stage. It is a warm summer’s evening and they play a grand opening medley in the fading light that seamlessly blends classic jazz with Michael Jackson numbers like “Wanna Be Startin Somethin.”
bee
Jazz Open Stuttgart 2017 - Festival of World Stars and Child Prodigies
Title: Jazz Open Stuttgart 2017 - Festival of World Stars and Child Prodigies
Character: Self
Released: October 12, 2017
Type: Movie
bee
Marcus
Title: Marcus
Character: Self
Released: January 24, 2015
Type: Movie
Patrick Savey plunges us into Marcus's world, capturing the New York roots of the legendary bass player, following his path like the pebbles of Tom Thumb, as he meets masters of Jazz like Larry Graham, Jaco Pastorius, David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau and Miles Davis. A fantastic visual and musical journey through the history of this exceptional musician
bee
Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark
Title: Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark
Character: Self
Released: May 13, 2014
Type: Movie
Take an in-depth look at the life and talent of the trailblazing musician who conquered racial barriers to leave an indelible mark on the jazz world.
bee
V.A. North Sea Jazz
Title: V.A. North Sea Jazz
Character: Self
Released: July 10, 2009
Type: Movie
bee
Tokyo Jazz Festival. vol.5
Title: Tokyo Jazz Festival. vol.5
Character: Self
Released: August 30, 2008
Type: Movie
bee
George Benson & Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux
Title: George Benson & Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux
Character: Self - guitar, vocal
Released: December 7, 2007
Type: Movie
bee
Title: The One Show
Character: Self
Released: August 14, 2006
Type: TV
A topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD. The programme is currently hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker from Monday-Thursday, with Chris Evans appearing instead of Baker on Fridays and relief presenters appearing when required.
bee
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
Title: Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
Character: Self
Released: June 1, 2006
Type: Movie
Live performances from a television music show that aired late night on the NBC-TV network the U.S.
bee
George Benson: Live At Montreux 1986
Title: George Benson: Live At Montreux 1986
Character: Self - Guitar
Released: December 2, 2005
Type: Movie
Recorded Live on July 18th, 1986 at "Montreux Casino", during the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland)
bee
Title: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Character: Self
Released: January 26, 2003
Type: TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.
bee
George Benson - Absolutely Live
Title: George Benson - Absolutely Live
Character: Self
Released: November 27, 2000
Type: Movie
One of music's most magnetic performers, George Benson shines in this live performance. Recorder at Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Ireland this performance highlights the versatility of George Benson. With guest appearances by jazz legend Joe Sample, the BBC Big Band, and musicians from the Ulster Orchestra, George delights his fans with his straight ahead jazz hits, contemporary R&B classics, and fresh interpretations of elegant and timeless standards.
bee
George Benson - Give me the night
Title: George Benson - Give me the night
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2000
Type: Movie
Recorded at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast 2000. Featuring Joe Sample, The BBC Big Band & Members of the Ulster Orchestra Tracks: 1. All Of Me 2. I Only Have Eyes For You 3. Beyond The Sea 4. Deeper Than You Think 5. Hipping The Hop 6. Lately 7. The Ghetto 8. In Your Eyes 9. Moodys Mood 10. Danny Boy 11. This Masquerade 12. Breezin 13. Love x Love 14. Turn Your Love Around 15. Never Give Up On A Good Thing 16. Give Me The Night 17. On Broadway
bee
Title: Where Are They Now?
Character: Self
Released: June 7, 1999
Type: TV
Where Are They Now? was a television series on VH1 that featured past celebrities and updated on their current professional and personal status. Each episode was dedicated to another genre. Though not always in sequence, some episodes were a continuation of the motif of episodes from the past. Those episodes sometimes had Roman numerals in their title to signify their sequel status.
bee
Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Fusion Night
Title: Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Fusion Night
Character: Self
Released: October 16, 1991
Type: Movie
Guitar Legends was a concert held over five nights, from October 15 to October 19, 1991, in Seville, Spain, with the aim of positioning the city as an entertainment destination to draw support for Expo '92 beginning the following April. The event featured 27 top guitarists, including BB King, Brian May, George Benson, Joe Walsh, Keith Richards, Les Paul, Robbie Robertson, Robert Cray, Roger Waters, Albert Collins, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. The vocalists included Rickie Lee Jones, Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker. Five 90-minute shows and a one-hour documentary were broadcast. Forty-five countries showed at least one live show. Later, broadcasters in 105 countries broadcast one or more programmes.
bee
A Tribute to Miles Davis
Title: A Tribute to Miles Davis
Character: Self
Released: October 16, 1991
Type: Movie
Was filmed in October 16, 1991 at Expo '92. The concert is absolutely amazing! What a beautiful tribute to Miles Davis. • 1. All Star Jam: Opening/Medley • 2. George Benson (geb. 1943): All blues • 3. John McLaughlin (geb. 1942): In a silent way • 4. Larry Coryell (geb. 1943): So what • 5. Paco De Lucia: Concerto de aranjuez • 6. Stanley Clarke (geb. 1951): Tutu • 7. Stanley Clarke / Larry Coryell: School days • 8. Larry Coryell (geb. 1943): Bolero • 9. Paco De Lucia: El Panuelo • 10. John McLaughlin (geb. 1942): Que alegria • 11. John McLaughlin / Paco De Lucia: Zyryab • 12. Rickie Lee Jones / Larry Coryell: Dat dere • 13. George Benson (geb. 1943): Valdez in the country • 14. George Benson (geb. 1943): Being with you • 15. All Star Jam: Eighty one
bee
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
Title: Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
Character: Self
Released: October 5, 1990
Type: Movie
The extraordinary life of Quincy Jones -- one of the 20th century's most influential and talented composers, musicians and music producers -- provides the basis of this offbeat, free-form documentary tribute. With little regard for formal timelines and traditional documentary biography methods, the film is an amazing patchwork of personal insights featuring a constellation of music stars including his long-time friend Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie and rappers Big Daddy Kane and Flavor Flav, as well as politicians, filmmakers and other important people. Some of the most moving scenes involve Jones returning to his childhood home in Chicago and recounting honest and painful memories from his childhood. Jones does not shy from discussing everything -- from his mother's mental illness, to his marital problems, to his serious health conditions. He also looks frankly at his career.
bee
Title: This Morning
Character: Self
Released: October 3, 1988
Type: TV
This Morning features a variety of news, as well as show business, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, home and garden, food, tech, live phone-ins, and competitions.
bee
Cilla Black's Christmas Eve
Title: Cilla Black's Christmas Eve
Character: Self
Released: December 24, 1983
Type: Movie
Special featuring Cilla Black and her guests Frankie Howerd, Graham Fletcher, the Bee Gees, Julio Iglesias and George Benson.
bee
Lynda Carter: Street Life
Title: Lynda Carter: Street Life
Character: Self
Released: March 5, 1982
Type: Movie
Lynda Carter stars in her fourth musical TV special with guests George Benson, Tony Orlando, and Frank Stallone.
bee
Talmage Farlow
Title: Talmage Farlow
Character: Self
Released: July 1, 1981
Type: Movie
A documentary about the life and career of American jazz guitarist Tal Farlow
bee
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Title: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Character: Our Guests at Heartland
Released: July 24, 1978
Type: Movie
A small town band makes it big, but loses track of their roots, as they get caught up into the big-time machinations of the music biz. Now, they must thwart a plot to destroy their home town. Built around the music of The Beatles, this musical uses some big name groups like Peter Frampton and Aerosmith.
bee
The People's Command Performance: '77
Title: The People's Command Performance: '77
Character: Self
Released: April 7, 1977
Type: Movie
A celebrity lineup selected by a “specially conducted nationwide survey” entertains.
bee
Title: Numéro un
Character: Self
Released: April 5, 1975
Type: TV
A French variety show.
bee
The Borgia Stick
Title: The Borgia Stick
Character: Self - Orchestra Conductor
Released: February 25, 1967
Type: Movie
A suburban couple discovers that they are pawns for a powerful crime syndicate. They try to break away from the cartel and go legitimate, but the syndicate doesn't want to give them up so easily.