George Washington Benson was born on March 22, 1943, in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a child prodigy, he began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist, playing with Jack McDuff and others.
Benson's early life was marked by his passion for music. At the age of seven, he first played the ukulele in a corner drug store, earning a few dollars. By the time he was eight, he was playing guitar in an unlicensed nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, although the police soon shut it down. At nine, he started recording, releasing two singles with RCA Victor in New York.
Benson attended and graduated from Schenley High School, where he learned to play straight-ahead instrumental jazz. He went on to perform with organist Jack McDuff for several years, and one of his early guitar heroes was country-jazz guitarist Hank Garland.
At 21, Benson recorded his first album as leader, The New Boss Guitar, featuring McDuff. He followed it up with It's Uptown and The George Benson Cookbook, both featuring Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber. Miles Davis employed Benson in the mid-1960s, featuring his guitar on "Paraphernalia" on his 1968 Columbia release, Miles in the Sky.
Benson then signed with Creed Taylor's jazz label CTI Records, where he recorded several albums with jazz heavyweights guesting. His 1974 release, Bad Benson, climbed to the top spot in the Billboard jazz chart, while the follow-ups, Good King Bad and Benson & Farrell, both reached the jazz top-three sellers.
In addition to his solo work, Benson also played on numerous sessions for other CTI artists, including Freddie Hubbard and Stanley Turrentine. He has won ten Grammy Awards and has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Throughout his career, Benson has had a large following and has been well-attended at his concerts. His album Breezin' was certified triple-platinum, hitting no. 1 on the Billboard album chart in 1976. He is considered one of the most influential and successful jazz guitarists of all time.
