Biography
Who is George Benson?
Early life and musical beginnings
George Washington Benson was born in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His musical path started very young. At seven years old, he played the ukulele in a local drug store. By age eight, he performed guitar in an unlicensed nightclub on weekends. He began recording music at nine years old.
He attended Connelley Vocational High School but eventually left to focus entirely on his music career. As a youth, he played straight-ahead instrumental jazz while working with organist Jack McDuff. During this formative period, he cited country-jazz guitarist Hank Garland as a major hero. He also attended Schenley High School during his education.
Career breakthrough and jazz success
In 1964, at age 21, he recorded his first album as a leader titled The New Boss Guitar of George Benson. This featured Jack McDuff. He followed this with albums like It's Uptown and The George Benson Cookbook. During the mid-1960s, Miles Davis employed him, featuring his guitar on the track Paraphernalia for the album Miles in the Sky.
He later signed with the jazz label CTI Records. While there, he served as a core member of the CTI All-Stars collective. He recorded and toured with various members, including Freddie Hubbard and Stanley Turrentine. He played on Hubbard's 1971 album First Light, which secured a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group.
Mainstream pop popularity
In the mid-1970s, he began recording for Warner Bros. Records, reaching a wider audience. His 1976 album Breezin achieved triple-platinum status and reached the top of the Billboard album chart. The song This Masquerade, featuring his lead vocals, became a major pop hit and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. He also recorded the original version of The Greatest Love of All for the 1977 Muhammad Ali film, The Greatest.
Quincy Jones produced his breakthrough pop album, Give Me the Night, which reached the top ten on both pop and R&B charts. This era included various successful singles such as Turn Your Love Around, Lady Love Me, and 20/20. Jones encouraged him to look at his vocal roots, leading to further vocal albums throughout the 1990s and beyond.
Later work and awards
His career continued with various projects into the 21st century. In 2009, the National Endowment of the Arts recognized him as a Jazz Master. He collaborated with artists like Marcus Miller and John Burk on the 2009 album Songs and Stories. In 2013, he released Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, featuring guests such as Wynton Marsalis and Idina Menzel.
He has received numerous honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, membership in the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music. In 2024, he released a previously lost project titled Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon. He ceased international touring in 2024 due to health concerns.
Birthday and age
George Benson was born on March 22, 1943, which makes George 83 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. George shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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