Biography of George Benson

A guitar that speaks

March 22, 1943 George Benson was born on March 22, 1943 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (U.s.a), and is simply one of the greatest guitarists in the history of Jazz and R & B (by some music critics and magazines is considered the best ever). His gift and his technique in a solo run, can be described as a nice round sound that merges with the awesome speed embossing in proposing it, a wonderful sense of logic in the musical construction of solos. Great singer, has a beautiful voice of 3/octaves, which passes easily from Swing to Jazz, R & B and Soul finally to Pop. George Benson has got to declare that his musical mentors were guitarists Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery, but his guitar playing style is completely of his own invention. Benson shows a prodigious talent since childhood, when he was four years old he won a singing contest and started a brief career as a radio DJ by the name of "Little Georgie Benson". At the age of eight he began to play the guitar, but it is as a singer who engages with great energy to refine his voice R & B songs, performing in black music and on the street in the city of Pittsburgh. At the age of ten he was noticed by a talent scout, and in 1950 makes his first recording with the song entitled "She Makes Me Mad" for the small record label, a subsidiary of RCA Victor Records "X". Meanwhile his stepfather encouraged him in expressing himself more musically, by placing an electric guitar and giving him the Ukulele (a type of guitar and typical of the Hawaiian Islands). Influence on his singing jazz singer Eddie Jefferson. After listening to the innovative recordings of saxophonist Charlie Parker and guitarist Grant Green, his interest in jazz increases. His big break came in 1961 when he joins as guitarist in the band of the organist Jack McDuff. Benson with McDuff runs for all United States until 1965 when he leaves to form his own jazz Quartet and affect his first album titled "The New Boss Guitar" 1965, "It's" Uptown "and" The George Benson Cookbook "of 1966. In 1965 bride Johnnie: the longevity of this marriage is a rare example in the world of entertainment. The couple had seven children, but unfortunately three died: Robert when he was still in the cradle; Keith was killed in 1991 with a headshot in a local music; in 1997 George Junior died of renal failure. George Benson is known as a very strong character, sweet and expansive man leading a very private personal life outside of the music world. The religion which follows with faith and passion is the one of Jehovah's witnesses. In addition to singing and playing electric guitar with his band, playing as a sideman for jazz masters such as Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, and Lee Morgan, and when picked as guitarist Miles Davis album titled "Miles Davis" in the Sky "" signs a contract with Columbia Records. In 1967 moves to the record label Verve, and recorded his first album as a singer and guitarist, entitled "Benson Burner". Although her singing is considered irrelevant, his guitar solos are welcomed by critics as "the work of a promising new jazz guitarist". Benson began working with producer Creed Taylor, A & M Records label that joins in 1970 with the new record label of CTI. In 1971 affect two new album "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and "White Rabbit" highly appreciated by critics; from 1973 to 1975 affects other albums titled "Body Talk" and "Bad Benson". Benson wants to be autonomous in the search for new musical and vocal melodies (autonomy under producer Creed Taylor doesn't get), which is why he moved to Warner Bros. Records where he met the producer Tommy LiPuma. With LiPuma develops his style of singing which is the scat: a way of singing with a line identical to the melodic sounding guitar (George Benson being a great vocalist, with his voice imitates the sound they are performing with his guitar). Thanks to its innovative way of singing, it gains the admiration of many fans and music critics, revolutionizing the genre jazz. In 1976 with Warner Bros influenced album entitled "Breezin '", which includes the hit "This Masquerade", selling four million copies and winning three Grammy Awards. Moving on to Warner Bros Records changes the type and brand of his guitar from Gibson (used for eleven years) to Ibanez where also becomes a partner-shareholder of the famous Japanese company that produces it, and by building on his directions the famous Ibanez George Benson "Model Ibanez GB10 and model Ibanez GB200" guitars that customize with some tricks in acoustics and sound. In 1977 in the recording studio affect one of his best albums entitled "Weekend in L.A." with the song "On Broadway" which won a Grammy Award for best male vocal performance, like R & b. In 1979 the song "On Broadway" is featured on the soundtrack (nominated for the Academy Award) for the film "All That Jazz" directed by Bob Fosse and winner of four Oscars. In the same year he published the double album "Livin' Inside Your Love". In 1980 enters the market of dance music with the beautiful album entitled "Give Me the Night", "produced by Quincy Jones, and that leads him to win other 3 Grammy Award. In the years ' 80 is unfairly criticized for having temporarily left out the jazz to sing and play a more commercial music (but high quality). George Benson without controversy but with deeds proves the opposite winning a Grammy Awardfor Best Pop instrumental performance,"with the song" Being With You ", from the album titled" In Your Eyes "of 1983; the following year (in 1984) affects the album entitled "20/20", in 1986 "While The City Sleeps" and "Twice The Love" in 1988. In 1987 recording with guitarist Earl Klugh the album entitled "Collaboration" in 1989, "Tenderly" and "Big Boss Band" in 1990, settling for jazz lovers. In the early ' 90 sent out two albums in 1992 "The Essence of George Benson", and in 1993 the sophisticated and refined "Love Remebers". In 1996 returns with "Thats Rights", with nine songs and vocal (song # 7 is titled "Johnnie Lee" and is dedicated to his wife). In 1998 influenced album "Standing Together" produced by the new record label Grp/Verve. In 2000 with class and elegance is publishing a new album titled "Absolute Benson," and with the same title released a DVD with recorded the concert held in Dublin. On 29 May 2001 is called in Italy (in the city of Modena) by the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti to participate in "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan". In 2003 suits new musical trends of the new millennium, always keeping his own style that sets it apart with the album "Irreplaceable". In 2006 changes again record company turning to Concord records; in the same year George Benson & Al Jarreau cooperate together and recorded the album-titled "givin' It Up", Benson interprets some famous songs of Al Jarreau, Al Jarreau and sings the greatest songs of vocalist Benson style, getting both an exceptional result, winning two Grammy Awards apiece out of three nominations. In 2008, for the first time join the Mawazine Festival in Morocco; later the company of Ibanez guitar to celebrate 30 years of collaboration with George Benson creates the GB30TH, a limited edition model finished with gold leaf. In the same year he was awarded the ' Nea Jazz Master as best singer solo srumentista, the most important award of the jazz music genre worldwide. The same prize was awarded in 2010. In 2009 returns with the extraordinary album "Songs and Stories". In 2011 (as was the case in Morocco) for the first time held a concert in Israel, and returns to jazz and recorded the album entitled "Guitar Man". From 1965 to 2012 are over 160 albums released, more than 250 million copies sold. For his contribution to the recording industry, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7055 Hollywood Boulevard.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.