George Benson

George Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter. He began his professional career at 21 as a jazz guitarist. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt.

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. He has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Biography

Early career

Benson was born and raised in the Hill District in 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 the age of eight, he played guitar in an unlicensed nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, but the police soon closed the club down. At the age of 10, he recorded his first single record, "She Makes Me Mad", with RCA-Victor in New York, under the name "Little Georgie".

George Benson (actor)

George Christopher Benson (11 January 1911 – 17 June 1983) was a Welsh and English actor of both theatre and screen, whose career spanned from the 1930s to the late 1970s. He made his film debut in 1932 in Holiday Lovers written by Leslie Arliss, while his most notable work as a comic actor included supporting roles with George Formby (Keep Fit - 1937) and Ronnie Barker (A Home of Your Own - 1964).

Benson was born in Cardiff and educated at Blundell's School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (where he was the Silver Medallist in 1930). He served with the Royal Artillery for 6 years.

He married, first, Jane Ann Sterndale Bennett, a granddaughter of the composer.

Selected filmography

George Benson (theologian)

George Benson (1699–1762) was an English Presbyterian minister and theologian. According to Alexander Balloch Grosart, writing in the Dictionary of National Biography, his views were "Socinian" though at this period the term is often confused with Arian.

Life

He was born at Great Salkeld, Cumberland, on 1 September 1699. Towards the close of Elizabeth's reign Dr. Benson's great-grandfather, John Benson, left London and settled in Cumberland. This John Benson had thirteen sons, from the eldest of whom Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley descended. During the English Civil War the youngest of these sons, George Benson, Dr. Benson's grandfather, took the side of the parliament; he had the living of Bridekirk in his native county, and was ejected in 1662. His grandson George received a classical education and proceeded to an academy presided over by Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven. He remained at this academy about a year, and then went to the University of Glasgow.

About the year 1721 he is found in London, and, approved by several presbyterian ministers, he began to preach, first at Chertsey and then in the metropolis. At this time Edmund Calamy received him into his own family. At the recommendation of Calamy he next went to Abingdon in Berkshire. He was chosen pastor of a congregation of Protestant dissenters there. He was ordained on 27 March 1723, Calamy and five other ministers officiating on the occasion. He continued in Abingdon for seven years. When ordained he held strictly Calvinist opinions and preached them fervently.

Teaser (George Benson song)

"Teaser" is a single by American R&B singer George Benson, which entered the UK Singles Chart on 14 February 1987. It reached a peak position of number 45, and remained on the chart for 4 weeks.

References

George Benson (American football)

George NathanBenson (May 7, 1919 – August 24, 2001) was a professional American football halfback. He was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference.

References

George Benson (Quaker)

George William Benson (1808–1879) was an American Quaker abolitionist from Connecticut who assisted Prudence Crandall in her education efforts. His father George Benson (Sr.) (1752–1836) was also active in opposing slavery. He was one of the founders of the utopian Northampton Association, and was the brother-in-law of William Lloyd Garrison. Sojourner Truth, who worked for him for a time as a housekeeper, was introduced to Garrisonian abolitionism in his home, which Crandall called an "asylum for the oppressed."

References

George Benson (saxophonist)

George "Sax" Benson is a Detroit-based jazz alto and tenor saxophonist, session musician and educator.

As a session musician he appeared on several Motown sessions in the 1960s, particularly with Marvin Gaye.

In 1983 he recorded with JC Heard on Heard's first album as leader since 1958, with pianist Claude Black and Canadian bassist Dave Young. Benson would co-lead an album with Heard in 1988.

In 1988, he received the "National Association of Jazz Educators' Outstanding Service to Jazz Education" Award.

Discography