George Benson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Benson
Benson in 2011
Background information
Birth name	George Washington Benson
Born	(1943-03-22) March 22, 1943 (age 82) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Jazz jazz fusion smooth jazz soul jazz disco adult contemporary urban contemporary
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Prestige Columbia Verve A&M CTI Warner Bros. GRP Concord Mascot
Associated acts	Jack McDuff Fuse One

George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is a famous American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is known for blending jazz with other music styles like pop and R&B. George Benson started his music career when he was just 19 years old.

He was a child prodigy, meaning he was very talented at a young age. In the 1960s, he became well-known for playing soul jazz. Later, he started a successful solo career, singing and playing guitar. His album Breezin' was a huge hit in 1976, reaching number one on the Billboard album chart. George Benson has won ten Grammy Awards and has a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

George Benson's Early Life and Music

Growing Up in Pittsburgh

George Benson was born and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started playing music very early. When he was seven, he played the ukulele in a local store and earned a few dollars. At eight, he played guitar in a nightclub on weekends. The police soon closed the club.

First Recordings as a Kid

When George was nine, he started recording music. Two of his songs, "She Makes Me Mad" and "It Should Have Been Me," were released by RCA Victor. The record label showed his name as George Benson. He focused on music and later received an honorary degree from Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Learning Jazz Guitar

As a young person, George Benson learned to play jazz guitar. He spent several years performing with organist Jack McDuff. One of his early guitar heroes was Hank Garland, a country-jazz guitarist.

At 21, he recorded his first album as a leader, The New Boss Guitar of George Benson (1964). This album featured Jack McDuff. He then released It's Uptown (1966) and The George Benson Cookbook (1967). Famous jazz musician Miles Davis even featured Benson's guitar on his 1968 album, Miles in the Sky.

George Benson's Rise to Fame

Music in the 1970s

George Benson in New York, 1977

In 1970, George Benson released The Other Side of Abbey Road, which featured his versions of songs from the Beatles' album Abbey Road. He then signed with CTI Records, a jazz label. There, he recorded several successful jazz albums. He also played with other jazz stars like Freddie Hubbard and Stanley Turrentine. He played on Hubbard's 1971 album First Light, which won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group.

In 1972, Benson released his version of "White Rabbit" on the album of the same name. His 1974 album, Bad Benson, became a top jazz album.

Breakthrough with Breezin'

In the mid-1970s, George Benson gained many new fans. On his 1976 album Breezin', he sang the lead vocal on "This Masquerade". This song became a huge pop hit and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The rest of the Breezin' album was instrumental.

In 1976, Benson toured with soul singer Minnie Riperton. He also played guitar and sang backup on Stevie Wonder's song "Another Star" from the album Songs in the Key of Life. He recorded the original version of "The Greatest Love of All" for the 1977 film The Greatest. This song was later made even more famous by Whitney Houston. His live recording of "On Broadway" from the 1978 album Weekend in L.A. also won a Grammy.

Hits in the 1980s

Benson in Montreux, 1986

In the 1980s, George Benson released Give Me the Night, produced by Quincy Jones. The title song, "Give Me the Night", became a top ten pop and R&B hit. He had many other hit singles like "Turn Your Love Around" and "Lady Love Me". Quincy Jones encouraged Benson to explore his singing even more. This led Benson to rediscover his love for singers like Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. This influenced many of his later albums where he sang more.

George Benson's Later Career

1990s to Today

In 1990, George Benson received an honorary music degree from the Berklee College of Music. The guitar company Ibanez created a special limited-edition guitar to celebrate 30 years of working with him.

A 1978 Ibanez George Benson signature guitar played by Joni Mitchell.

In 2009, Benson was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts. This is the highest honor for jazz musicians in the United States. He performed at festivals around the world, including a tribute show to Nat King Cole.

In late 2009, Benson recorded an album called Songs and Stories. He also appeared on TV shows to promote it. In 2011, he released Guitar Man, which went back to his guitar-playing roots from the 1960s and 70s.

In 2013, he released Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, featuring other famous musicians. He also performed at the Rock in Rio festival again. In 2018, he was featured on the Gorillaz song "Humility".

In early 2024, George Benson stopped touring internationally due to health reasons. On July 19, 2024, he released a new album called Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon. This album was based on recordings from 1989 that were thought to be lost.

George Benson's Personal Life

George Benson has been married to Johnnie Lee since 1965. They have seven children. He is a Jehovah's Witness and says his music often focuses on love and romance because of his family and religious beliefs. He lives in Englewood, New Jersey.

George Benson's Music Albums

George Benson's Awards

Grammy Awards

George Benson has won many Grammy Awards for his music. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: George Benson para niños