ENDEIT
George Benson
Photo: Warner Bros. Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Guitarists · b. 1943

George Benson

American guitarist and singer (born 1943)

Born
22 March 1943
Pittsburgh
Country
United States
Active
1954–
Record labels
Columbia Records, Concord Records, Prestige, Warner Bros. Records, computer telephony integration
Discography
57 albums

Biography

George Benson is a jazz musician who plays guitar and voice. George Benson was born on 22 March 1943 in Pittsburgh. The music is usually filed under jazz, pop music and rhythm and blues. Record labels: Columbia Records, Concord Records, Prestige and Warner Bros. Records. The discography here lists 57 albums, from “The New Boss Guitar of George Benson” (1964) to “Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon” (2024). Honours include New Jersey Hall of Fame (2021), NEA Jazz Masters and star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American jazz fusion 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.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

The New Boss Guitar of George Benson 1964 · Prestige The George Benson Cookbook 1966 · Columbia Giblet Gravy 1968 · Verve Shape of Things to Come 1968 · A&M Records Goodies 1969 · Verve Tell It Like It Is 1969 · A&M Records The Other Side of Abbey Road 1970 · A&M Records Beyond the Blue Horizon 1971 · CTI White Rabbit 1971 · CTI Body Talk 1973 · CTI Bad Benson 1974 · CTI Benson & Farrell 1976 · CTI Breezin’ 1976 · Warner Bros. Records George Benson in Concert: Carnegie Hall 1976 · Live · CTI Good King Bad 1976 · CTI In Flight 1977 · Warner Bros. Records Erotic Moods 1978 · Paul Winley Records Space 1978 · CTI Weekend in L.A. 1978 · Live · Warner Bros. Records Livin’ Inside Your Love 1979 · Warner Bros. Records Give Me the Night 1980 · Warner Bros. Records Jazz On A Sunday Afternoon Vol. I 1981 · Live · Accord In Your Eyes 1983 · Warner Bros. Records Pacific Fire 1983 · CTI I Got a Woman and Some Blues 1984 · A&M Records 20/20 1985 · Warner Bros. Records While the City Sleeps… 1986 · Warner Bros. Records Collaboration 1987 · Warner Bros. Records Twice the Love 1988 · Warner Bros. Records Witchcraft 1988
Round Midnight 1989 · Live
Tenderly 1989 · Warner Bros. Records Big Boss Band 1990 · Warner Bros. Records Love Remembers 1993 · Warner Bros. Records Live and Smokin' 1995 · Live That’s Right 1996 · BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. Jazz Guitar 1998 · Live · TKO Magnum Music Standing Together 1998 · GRP Absolute Benson 2000 · GRP The Best of George Benson Live (MSN exclusive) 2000 · Live · GRP Jazz Café presents George Benson 2001 · Galaxy Irreplaceable 2003 · GRP Live at Montreux 1986 2005 · Live · Eagle Eye Media Givin’ It Up 2006 · Monster Music
Collaboration Live 1988 2007 · Live
Songs and Stories 2009 · Monster Music Guitar Man 2011 · Concord Jazz
Live at the Casa Caribe, Vol. 1 2011 · Live
Live at the Casa Caribe, Vol. 2 2011 · Live
Inspiration (A Tribute to Nat King Cole) 2013 · Concord Records Unplugged in Africa 2013 · Live Downbeat Jazz Awards 1976 2018 · Live Walking to New Orleans 2019 · Provogue Weekend in London 2020 · Live · Provogue
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco 1975 2022 · Live
Love For Sale 2022 Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon 2024 · Rhino

Also plays on

Albums where George Benson is credited as a sideman

1964 Prelude — Brother Jack McDuff guitar
1965 Silk and Soul — Brother Jack McDuff guitar
1967 Alligator Bogaloo — Lou Donaldson guitar
1967 Finger-Lickin’ Good — Dr. Lonnie Smith guitar
1967 Hallelujah Time! — Brother Jack McDuff guitar
1968 Miles in the Sky — Miles Davis electric guitar, performer
1968 Midnight Creeper — Lou Donaldson guitar
1968 Reach Out! — Hank Mobley guitar
1968 The Boss — Jimmy Smith guitar
1968 Heaven on Earth — Larry Young guitar
1968 The Midnight Sun — “Brother” Jack McDuff guitar
1968 Soul Circle — Brother Jack McDuff guitar
1969 Crying Song — Hubert Laws guitar
1969 I Got a Woman — Brother Jack McDuff guitar
1969 Steppin' Out — Brother Jack McDuff guitar
1970 Stonebone — J & K guitar
1971 First Light — Freddie Hubbard guitar
1971 Straight Life — Freddie Hubbard guitar
1971 Sugar — Stanley Turrentine electric guitar
1972 Sky Dive — Freddie Hubbard guitar
1972 Free — Airto Moreira guitar
1972 We Got a Good Thing Going — Hank Crawford electric guitar
1975 Polar AC — Freddie Hubbard guitar
1975 The Chicago Theme — Hubert Laws guitar
1975 Afro‐Desia — Lonnie Smith guitar
1977 Conquistador — Maynard Ferguson guitar
1977 Funk in a Mason Jar — Harvey Mason guitar, vocals
1978 Super Blue — Freddie Hubbard guitar
1979 Boulevard Nights — Lalo Schifrin guitar, performer, vocals
1979 Lonnie Smith featuring George Benson, Ron Carter — Lonnie Smith feat. George Benson, Ron Carter guitar

Standards written by George Benson

TitleKeyFormGroove
Mimosa F major AB · 20 Bossa nova

Awards

Historic 78 rpm records

  • RISING TIDE CALVIN FRAZIER (His Guitar) And Band · George Benson archive.org ↗

Books about George Benson

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does George Benson play?

George Benson is known for playing guitar and voice.

When and where was George Benson born?

George Benson was born 22 March 1943 in Pittsburgh.

What are George Benson's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include The New Boss Guitar of George Benson (1964), The George Benson Cookbook (1966), Giblet Gravy (1968), Shape of Things to Come (1968) and Goodies (1969).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.