Frogtoon Music

The George Benson Collection (Album) by George Benson

Artist Biography For George Benson

George Benson Is A Jazz Guitarist Born In Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA On 22 March 1943. He Started Out Playing Straight-Ahead Instrumental Jazz With Organist Jack McDuff. Benson Got His First Experience Playing With His Several-Year Stint With McDuff's Group. In 1964 At The Age Of 21 Benson Recorded His First Album As Leader The New Boss Guitar With Brother Jack McDuff On Organ. Benson's Next Recording Was It's Uptown With The George Benson Quartet With Lonnie Smith On Organ And Ronnie Cuber On Baritone Sax. This Album Showcases Benson's Talent In Constructing Swinging Bebop Lines At Blistering Tempos. Benson Followed It Up With "The George Benson Cookbook " Also With Lonnie Smith And Ronnie Cuber. One Of His Major Hits Is The Song "This Masquerade" Which Is Included In The Top-Selling Album Breezin' . This Album Represents A Shift To More Commercially Oriented Music Which Brought Benson A Wider Audience But Alienated Some Jazz Fans. Other Singles That Have Made The Billboard Hot 100 Charts Include "On Broadway" 1978 "Love Ballad" 1979 "Give Me The Night" 1980 And "Turn Your Love Around" 1982 . Benson Continues To Play Outstanding Jazz Guitar As Evidenced On Recordings Such As Jimmy Smith's Off The Top Benson's Own Live Album Par Excellence And Tenderly On Which Benson Is Accompanied By McCoy Tyner On Piano. For His Contribution To The Recording Industry George Benson Has A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame At 7055 Hollywood Blvd.

HOME GEORGE BENSON
POPULAR TRACKS MIXES ALBUMS
Video 1 : 50

Frogtoon Music -

Frogtoon Music Album Info: The George Benson Collection

When George Benson Was Making These Recordings In The 1970s He Was Considered A Talented Jazz Guitarist Who Had Crossed Over To Pop-Soul Vocals. While There's Certainly Pure Pop And An Emphasis On Vocals Here There's Also Something Else Smooth Jazz. Included Are Classics Of The Genre Like The Instrumental "Breezin'" And The King Pleasure Vocalese "Moody's Mood." Benson's Hit Versions Of Songs Like "On Broadway" And "This Masquerade" Are Memorable Too With Him Singing Scat In Unison With His Guitar. In Benson's Hands Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" Becomes A Quasi-Symphonic Instrumental With Touches Of Flamenco And The Vocal Duets "Love All The Hurt Away" With Aretha Franklin And "We Got The Love" With Chaka Khan Are Solid Soul Ballads. --Adam Rains