George Benson

George Benson

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.

  • Title: George Benson
  • Popularity: 1.146
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday: 1943-03-22
  • Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Homepage: http://www.georgebenson.com/
  • Also Known As:
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George Benson Movies

  • 1977
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    The People's Command Performance: '77

    The People's Command Performance: '77

    1 1977 HD

    A celebrity lineup selected by a “specially conducted nationwide survey” entertains.

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  • 1978
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    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

    4.373 1978 HD

    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...

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  • 1983
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    Cilla Black's Christmas Eve

    Cilla Black's Christmas Eve

    1 1983 HD

    Special featuring Cilla Black and her guests Frankie Howerd, Graham Fletcher, the Bee Gees, Julio Iglesias and George Benson.

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  • 2022
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    Better Nate Than Ever

    Better Nate Than Ever

    6.5 2022 HD

    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...

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  • 2000
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    George Benson - Give me the night

    George Benson - Give me the night

    1 2000 HD

    Recorded at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast 2000. Featuring Joe Sample, The BBC Big Band & Members of the Ulster Orchestra Tracks: 1. All Of Me ...

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  • 2022
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    Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes

    Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes

    4 2022 HD

    The life and career of jazz musician Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history, featuring original concert footage and insights from jazz...

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  • 1981
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    Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

    Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

    10 1981 HD

    Jazz legend Count Basie and His Orchestra performs a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, with guests Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett and George Benson.

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  • 1991
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    A Tribute to Miles Davis

    A Tribute to Miles Davis

    1 1991 HD

    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:...

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  • 2014
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    Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark

    Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark

    7 2014 HD

    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.

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  • 2005
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    George Benson: Live At Montreux 1986

    George Benson: Live At Montreux 1986

    1 2005 HD

    Recorded Live on July 18th, 1986 at "Montreux Casino", during the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland)

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  • 2008
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    Tokyo Jazz Festival. vol.5

    Tokyo Jazz Festival. vol.5

    1 2008 HD

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  • 2009
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    V.A. North Sea Jazz

    V.A. North Sea Jazz

    6 2009 HD

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  • 2007
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    George Benson & Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux

    George Benson & Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux

    1 2007 HD

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  • 1990
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    Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

    Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

    6 1990 HD

    The extraordinary life of Quincy Jones -- one of the 20th century's most influential and talented composers, musicians and music producers --...

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  • 2018
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    It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story

    It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story

    8.2 2018 HD

    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...

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  • 2006
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    Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

    Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

    1 2006 HD

    Live performances from a television music show that aired late night on the NBC-TV network the U.S.

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  • 2015
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    Marcus

    Marcus

    6 2015 HD

    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...

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  • 2017
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    Jazz Open Stuttgart 2017 - Festival of World Stars and Child Prodigies

    Jazz Open Stuttgart 2017 - Festival of World Stars and Child Prodigies

    1 2017 HD

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  • 2017
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    Quincy Jones & Friends - Live at Jazz Open Stuttgart

    Quincy Jones & Friends - Live at Jazz Open Stuttgart

    1 2017 HD

    Back in 2017, at the Jazzopen Stuttgart Festival, the great Quincy Jones put on a show that elicited many rapturous standing ovations from the...

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  • 1991
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    Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Fusion Night

    Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Fusion Night

    6 1991 HD

    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...

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  • 1981
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    Talmage Farlow

    Talmage Farlow

    5 1981 HD

    A documentary about the life and career of American jazz guitarist Tal Farlow

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  • 1982
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    Lynda Carter: Street Life

    Lynda Carter: Street Life

    1 1982 HD

    Lynda Carter stars in her fourth musical TV special with guests George Benson, Tony Orlando, and Frank Stallone.

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  • 2000
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    George Benson - Absolutely Live

    George Benson - Absolutely Live

    7.7 2000 HD

    One of music's most magnetic performers, George Benson shines in this live performance. Recorder at Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Ireland this...

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  • 1967
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    The Borgia Stick

    The Borgia Stick

    7.8 1967 HD

    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...

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  • 1988
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    This Morning

    This Morning

    5.7 1988 HD

    This Morning features a variety of news, as well as show business, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, home and garden, food, tech, live phone-ins, and...

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  • 2003
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    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    5.5 2003 HD

    Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.

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  • 2006
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    The One Show

    The One Show

    4.6 2006 HD

    A topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One.

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  • 1999
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    Where Are They Now?

    Where Are They Now?

    7.5 1999 HD

    Where Are They Now? was a television series on VH1 that featured past celebrities and updated on their current professional and personal status. Each...

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  • 1975
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    Numéro un

    Numéro un

    6 1975 HD

    A French variety show.

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