George Benson Artistfacts

March 22, 1943
George Benson was born and raised in the Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His mother was a pianist and his uncle a guitar player.
Benson was a child prodigy, winning a singing contest at four. He started playing the ukulele at 7 and guitar in nightclubs the following year. He recorded his first single, "She Makes Me Mad," at 10.
George Benson was given his first big break as a youth by soul jazz organist Jack McDuff. "He didn't want you to knock people out in the first few bars of your solo, or he'd cut you off and let the saxophone player take over," he recalled to Mojo magazine. "So, I had to learn how to build the song up, so he'll to let me play more."
Miles Davis featured Benson's electric guitar on "Paraphernalia" from his 1968 album Miles in the Sky. "That was a very scary session," Benson told Mojo. "He was a very strange guy, very frank and never bit his tongue. A lot of times he said very profound stuff, but what he told me was what he said to Jimi Hendrix; play loud. I thought he was kidding, but eventually I got the message. He was saying, give the people what they want."
His breakthrough came in 1976 with the album Breezin', produced by Quincy Jones, which not only revitalized his career but also won him his first Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Arrangement for an Instrumental.
Benson's guitar style, characterized by smooth, lyrical playing and use of octaves, was influenced by jazz guitarists like Charlie Christian and Barney Kessel, as well as blues and soul music. His ability to blend these influences is seen in hits like "On Broadway" (1978) (a cover of The Drifters' classic) and "This Masquerade" from Breezin', which won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Performance. His vocal style, known for its soulful quality, further enhances his crossover appeal.
George Benson has been married twice. He has a son named Keith Givens from his first marriage to Betty Jane Givens, which lasted only a year. He has been married to his second wife, Johnnie Lee, since 1965, and they have six children together.
Beyond music, Benson is an avid golfer, participating in celebrity golf tournaments. The George Benson Scholarship Fund, supporting students in Western Pennsylvania with a connection to golf, celebrates his love of the game.
An active Jehovah's Witness, George Benson's religious faith grounds him. "I've been a Bible student for many years and through the scriptures I find the most satisfying answers about the questions of life," he said.

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