In 1965, Hammond signed Benson to Columbia, for which he would record three albums. He was impressed with Benson's growing list of sideman credits, which included work with such artists as Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis. Hammond was a talent scout who made Benson one of his major discoveries in 1965. Montgomery would prove to be Benson's most important inspiration in the style of playing that he would develop. It was Montgomery, one of jazz's most creative guitar players, who came across Benson early, complimenting and encouraging the young guitarist to continue his already impressive work. While in New York, Benson formed his own band and met two acquaintances that would become major influences in his path to stardom: guitarist Wes Montgomery and Columbia Records producer and executive John Hammond. They would have seven children together, all of them sons. It was during this early period of his career that Benson would meet his wife of over 40 years, Johnnie, whom he married in 1965. After playing and recording with McDuff for four years, Benson set out on his own and moved to New York City, which was then the jazz capital of the world. He recorded his debut album in 1964, The New Boss Guitar, with McDuff on organ. In the early 1960s, Benson apprenticed with organist "Brother" Jack McDuff, and by the age of 21, recorded his first album as leader. His interest in jazz came from exposure to records of artists such as guitarists Charlie Christian, Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, and saxophonist Charlie Parker.īenson began his career working as a guitarist and singer, performing with a succession of rhythm-and-blues and rock bands in the corner pubs of his native Pittsburgh.
By his late teens, Benson began to concentrate exclusively on the guitar and formed his own rock band at 17.
After recording four sides for RCA Victor's X Records subsidiary in the mid-1950s, his stepfather wanted him to concentrate on developing his instrumental talent and constructed a guitar for him. Benson showed his talent from an early age, winning a singing contest when he was only four years old and enjoying a short career as a child radio performer under the name of "Little Georgie Benson." He started out professionally as a singer, performing in nightclubs at the age of eight and also learned to dance and play the ukulele at this time. He was raised in Pittsburgh's Hill District and attended the now defunct Connelley High School before dropping out. In the greater scheme of Benson’s career, Breezin’ is really not so much a breakthrough as it is a transition album the guitar is still the core of his identity.George Benson was born on March 22, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The attractive title track also became a minor hit single, although Gabor Szabo’s 1971 recording with composer Bobby Womack is even more fetching. Yet it is the sole vocal track (his first in many years), Leon Russell’s “This Masquerade” - where George unveiled his new trademark, scatting along with a single-string guitar solo - that reached number ten on the pop singles chart and drove the album all the way to number one on the pop (!) LP chart.
#BREEZIN GEORGE BENSON CHART CRACK#
Most of Breezin’ is a softer-focused variation of Benson’s R&B/jazz-flavored CTI work, his guitar as assured and fluid as ever with Claus Ogerman providing the suave orchestral backdrops and his crack then-working band (including Ronnie Foster on keyboards and sparkplug Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar) pumping up the funk element. The album garnered 4 Grammys, including Best-Engineered Album, Non Classical and “Record of the Year” for the massive hit (and Leon Russell cover) “This Masquerade,” which topped the Pop, Jazz, and R&B charts.Īll of a sudden, George Benson became a pop superstar with this album, thanks to its least representative track. The 1976 triple-platinum album by 10X Grammy Winner George Benson marked the beginning of the guitarist and singer most successful commercial period.
#BREEZIN GEORGE BENSON CHART DOWNLOAD#
Official Digital Download – Source: | Front cover FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:50 minutes | 632 MB | Genre: Jazz