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George Benson is simply one of the most outstanding guitarists in jazz history. Along with being popular as a guitarist he is also well known as an amazing musician. His versatile nature enables him to play in a variety of styles, from swing to bop to R&B to pop. His music blends a supreme taste, an exquisite rounded tone, terrific speed, a fantastic sense of logic in composing solos, and, always, a quenchless impulse to swing. His style presents some influences of Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery, but his style is entirely his own. Not only does he perform as a lead brilliantly, he is also one of the finest rhythm guitarists of all times. The notable fact is that his voice has turned up to be more remarkable to the audience than his guitar.
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George Benson was born on March 22, 1943 in Pittsburgh. His recording career started at the age of 21. Benson recorded his first album as leader, The New Boss Guitar, with Brother Jack McDuff on organ. He became nationally well known with his hits like "Give Me The Night", "Lady Love Me, "Turn Your Love Around", "In Your Eyes" and "This Masquerade". Benson's first recording was followed by It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax. This album presents Benson's talent in forming swinging be bop lines at caustic tempos. Benson followed it up with The George Benson Cookbook, also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber.
Benson played guitar on Paraphenalia, which was featured on the trumpeter's 1967 Columbia release, Miles in the Sky. Later he got together with Verve Records for an enchantment. Subsequently, Creed Taylor signed him up for his CTI label, where he recorded various albums with jazz giants guesting to defined financial success. Benson also did his versions of The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road which he entitled, The Other Side Of Abbey Road and "White Rabbit", which came to be known as the best version, recorded by Jefferson Airplane.
Since the 1980s, Benson has been recording jazz albums that once again featured his guitar work, and he still tours and records presently. Benson's collaboration with guitarist Chet Atkins proved to be a success on the smooth jazz charts, "Sunrise" one of two songs from the duo produced on Atkins' disc "Stay Tuned". In 1992 Benson was seen on Jack McDuff's Colour Me Blue album. George Benson will collaborate with Al Jarreau on an international journey to promote their 2006 album "Givin' It Up". During this tour they will perform in S. Africa, Australia and New Zealand in the summer of 2007.