George Benson: A timeline of his illustrious six-decade career

Read up on the legendary guitarist's achievements over the years, growing from "Little Georgie" into an internationally reknowned star

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 14th Jun 2021
Last updated 14th Jun 2021

George Benson is one of the best known Jazz guitarists in the world. Starting out his music career at a young age, George is still wowing audiences almost 70 years later. The multi-Grammy Award-winning artist was even awarded the title of Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts, as well as being given the 'Impact Award' at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards.

Read up on George's biggest career achievements through the years with our timeline right here...

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George Benson's career timeline: 8 of his biggest moments through the years

Early life

George Washington Benson was born on 22nd March 1943 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, known for its vibrant jazz scene and therefore, George was introduced to music at a very early age. His first 'job' in showbiz was playing a ukulele in a local drug store, getting paid a handful of dollars, and by the age of eight he was playing guitar in a club on Friday and Saturday nights. At just nine-years-old, George began to record material, releasing two songs in 1954 – 'She Makes Me Mad' and 'It Should Have Been Me' through RCA Victor in New York, under the name "Little Georgie".

1964: Debut album and working with Jack McDuff

George got his big break working with jazz organist Jack McDuff, playing guitar at his live shows and on some of his album recordings. In 1964, aged just 21, George recorded his first album as leader – The New Boss Guitar of George Benson with Jack on piano and organ, released through Prestige Records.

Over the next few years, he released more albums as leader including It's Uptown (1966) and The George Benson Cookbook (1967), but also worked as sideman on other artists' records, like Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Hank Mobley, Roberta Peck – and even Miles Davis, contributing to 'Paraphernalia' on the 1968 record Miles In The Sky. He also married his wife Johnnie Lee in 1965.

1971: Signing to CTI Records

George signed to A&M, releasing two records via the label: Tell It Like It Is and The Other Side of Abbey Road – jazz covers of the famous album by The Beatles, featuring 'Golden Slumbers', 'Come Together' and 'Here Comes The Sun' among others, with Herbie Hancock on the piano. He then signed to Creed Taylor's record label CTI in 1971, garnering even more success. Ff the six records he released via CTI, five of them broke into the Top 10 on the US Jazz charts, with 1974's Bad Benson going to the top spot.

1976: 'Breezin'' and Grammy Awards

After signing to Warner Bros. Records, George released his album Breezin'. The record topped not only the US Jazz charts and the R&B chart, but the regular chart too - and has even been certified 3x Platinum in the US, making it one of the best-selling Jazz albums of all time. Featuring songs like the title track and 'This Masquerade', the album won many gongs at the Grammy Awards in 1977 – including 'Best Pop Instrumental Performance', and was also nominated for 'Album of the Year'. 'This Masquerade' was also nominated for 'Song of the Year' and 'Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male)'.

George toured with Minnie Riperton of 'Lovin' You' fame in 1976 just a few months after she was diagnosed with cancer, and also contributed backing vocals and guitar to Stevie Wonder's recording of 'Another Star' from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life.

In 1977, George recorded the original version of 'The Greatest Love of All' for 1977's Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest, later made famous by Whitney Houston.

1980: 'Give Me The Night'

George broke through into the mainstream with his 1980 record Give Me The Night – mainly thanks to the title track, which is still hugely popular to this day. The Quincy Jones-produced album topped the US Jazz and R&B charts, peaking at Number 3 in the US mainstream charts as well as in the UK – marking his most successful album so far, and he also won the Grammy Award for 'Best Male R&B Vocal Performance'. His follow-up album, In Your Eyes, was also successful in the UK, again peaking at Number 3 in the mainstream charts and featuring the global hit 'Lady Love Me (One More Time)'.

After encouragement from Quincy, George rediscovered his Jazz roots, finding inspiration once more in the likes of Nat King Cole and Ray Charles that he'd admired since his childhood, recording a cover of 'I Got a Woman' for his Blues-inspired album I Got a Woman and Some Blues, released in 1984.

1990: Honorary doctorate

George continued to record and release albums, putting out records every couple of years and releasing an impressive total of five between 1985 and 1990, in which year he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the Berklee College of Music. He didn't stop there, releasing four more records in the 1990s and yet another four in the 2000s. Although none of them quite achieved the success in the UK that he'd seen with Give Me the Night and In Your Eyes, every single record he released between 1984 and 2013 made it in the Top 10 on the US Jazz charts – with most hitting the Top 3 positions - quite a feat!

2009: Nat King Cole tributes and Jazz Master recipient

George was recognised as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts in 2009 – the highest honour in Jazz that can be bestowed in the US. Other recipients of the achievement include Pat Metheny, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Art Blakey, Lonnie Smith, Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock. He performed a tribute show to Nat King Cole, 'An Unforgettable Tribute to Nat King Cole' in July 2009 at the Istanbul International Jazz Festival and followed this up with an album entitled Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. The record featured covers of Nat's most famous songs including 'Mona Lisa', 'Unforgettable' and 'Smile' among many others, collaborating with other artists such as Idina Menzel and Judith Hill.

2016 - present: Guitar Star and 36th studio album

George became a mentor for the second series of Guitar Star, a TV talent search for the UK and Republic of Ireland's most talented guitarist which aired in 2016. He also featured on the track 'Humility' by alternative rock band Gorillaz in 2018, providing guitar and additional vocals. George released his 36th studio album Walking to New Orleans in 2019 which served as a tribute to Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, recording covers of some of their most famous songs like 'Ain't That a Shame' and 'Nadine (Is It You)'.

Like many artists, George was planning to tour in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant that he rescheduled the dates to Summer 2021 – so here's hoping that those with tickets for the shows in Leeds, Cardiff and other venues around the UK will get to see him on stage.