George Benson

On Broadway & Masquerade By Eby Eke-Ukoh

Background information Childhood

Born: March 22, 1943 (age 71) Pittsburgh, Pa
Genres : Jazz, funk, rhythm and blues, Soul Occupations: Musician, Songwriter

Instruments: Vocals, guitar, arch top guitar

Notable Instruments :

Ibanez GB10 Signature Model Ibanez GB200 Signature Model

Early Years

Early Years Continues

Played electric guitar in Brother Jack McDuffs

quartet, 1962-65 1965 worked as side man and led own quartets as guitarist and as song writer and singer 1965-68; Recording artist with Columbia Records

Education
High Schools : Connelly High School (Dropped Out)

Schenley High School (Graduated)

Career Start
Started as a Singer
First guitar was engineered by his stepfather Performed at different pub corners Performed at night clubs by age eight

Notable Musicians Who Played With George Benson

Jack McDuff
Earl Klugh Al Jarreau

Joe Sample
Wes Montgomery Charlie Christian McCoy Tyner Count Basie Orchestra

Record Labels
Prestige Records: 1964-1965
Columbia Records: 1966-1967 Verve Records : 1968

A & M Records : 1968-1970

CTI Records : 1971-1976 Warner Brother Records : 1976-1994 GRP Records : 1995-2005 Concord Records : 2006- present

List of Grammy Awards Received By George Benson

Year
1977 1977 1977 1979 1981 1981 1981 1984 2007
Category Title Notes

Best R&B Instrumental Performance Best Pop Instrumental Performance Record of the Year Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male

Theme from Good King Bads

Breezin
This Masquerade
Tommy LiPuma, producer

On Broadway

Moody Mood

Best R&B Instrumental Performance Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Best Pop Instrumental Performance Best Traditional R&B Instrumental Performance

Off Broadway Give Me the Night Being with You God Bless the Child
With Al Jarreau & Jill Scott

Life and Marriage

Recorded his first album at the age of 21.
Got married to his wife Jonnie in 1965. Blessed with seven boys.

Personal Tragedy
Lost one of his sons to kidney failure.
Lost one to crib death. Lost one to gunshot injuries from a bar fight.

Commemoration Song
Was asked by Mohammed Al Fayed to write a song in

memory of his son, who died along with his friend Princes Diana of England in 1997. During the writing, I asked my wife to come listen to what I had written, but when I got to certain parts, it became too difficult. My lips were trembling. I was thinking about my own loses and couldnt get past it. It stopped me cold

Influential People in His Life

Guitarist Wes Montgomery
Columbia Records Producer and executive John

Hammond

On Broadway
Won a Grammy award for best Male R&B Vocal

Performance in 1997. Used in movies like BIG BUSINESS and AMERICAN BEAUTY

On Broadway By George Benson

Listening Guide: On Broadway

Has regular rhythm. Melody stands out.
Great harmony.

Timbre is well orchestrated

Masquerade
Written by Leon Russell.
Made top ten hits on Pop and R&B. Made number ten on the board hot 100.

Number three on Hot Soul singles chart.

Grammy award for the Record of the year.

George Benson Playing Masquerade

Listening Guide: Masquerade

Short Melody.
Great Timbre, smooth and slow. Repetitive lyric.

Bibliography
Benson Honored. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sept. 28,

2008, Sooner, Arts & Entertainment. George Benson: Biography from Answers.com. May 2, 2009 WWW.answers.com/topic/george-benson George Benson- The official Site. GeorgeBenson.com. April 28, 2009 WWW.georgebenson.com