Happy Birthday, George Benson

Jazz guitarist George Benson turns 71 today. Benson was born on March 22, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Benson first performed professionally as a singer, winning a contest at four and performing in nightclubs at eight. In 1960, he formed a rock band, using a guitar that his stepfather made for him.

Benson, as Len Lyons puts it, "has a warm, clean, melodic delivery along the lines of ... Wes Montgomery," Benson's mentor.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the George Benson album, Weekend in L.A. (Warner Brothers), which is available on CD from Amazon.com.

Benson plays "Take Five" here:

Robert
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