[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fbOf3bAUTMzkrPE-HnJVNanXbCOOZOEf6ipF6qRrVSJU":3,"$fWGWdAsGBzU-AQyccWFQk40uM1-peFIeUaB-rtMGguMk":13},{"author":4,"tags":12},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":10,"slug":11,"image_url":10},118247,"George Benson","G",65,"**George Benson: A Legendary Jazz Guitarist and Singer**\n\n### Full Name and Common Aliases\nGeorge Wallace Benson Jr., commonly known as **George Benson**, is an American jazz guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur.\n\n### Birth and Death Dates\nBorn on October 22, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, George Benson passed away on September 17, 2021, at the age of 74.\n\n### Nationality and Profession(s)\nGeorge Benson is an American jazz musician, known for his work as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time.\n\n### Early Life and Background\nGrowing up in Pittsburgh's North Side, George Benson was introduced to music by his mother, Garnetta, who played guitar and sang hymns. His father, George Sr., also played the saxophone. At age 12, Benson received a Gibson guitar as a gift from his uncle, which he used to start teaching himself how to play.\n\nBenson's early musical influences included jazz legends such as Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and Wes Montgomery. He attended Schenley High School, where he formed his first band, The Casuals, with friends. After graduating in 1964, Benson moved to New York City to pursue a career in music.\n\n### Major Accomplishments\nGeorge Benson's career spans over five decades, during which he has achieved numerous accolades:\n\n* 10 Grammy Awards as a performer and producer\n* 14 Grammy nominations\n* Inducted into the **DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame** (1986)\n* Named one of the greatest guitarists of all time by **Rolling Stone** magazine\n\n### Notable Works or Actions\nBenson's most notable works include:\n\n* **\"Breezin'\"** (1976) - his best-selling album, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and won four Grammy Awards\n* **\"Give Me the Night\"** (1980) - Benson's first pop hit single, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart\n\nAs a guitarist, Benson is known for his smooth, melodic style, which has influenced countless musicians.\n\n### Impact and Legacy\nGeorge Benson's impact on jazz and popular music cannot be overstated:\n\n* He helped bridge the gap between jazz and pop with his fusion sound\n* His unique guitar playing style has inspired generations of musicians, including **Pat Metheny**, **Sting**, and **Herbie Hancock**\n* As a singer, Benson's smooth, soulful voice has made him one of the most recognizable voices in jazz\n\n### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered\nGeorge Benson is widely quoted and remembered for his:\n\n* Innovative guitar playing style, which blended elements of jazz, blues, and pop\n* Smooth, soulful singing voice, which added a new dimension to jazz vocals\n* Boundary-pushing fusion sound, which helped shape the course of modern music\n\nBenson's legacy extends beyond his impressive discography; he has inspired countless musicians and continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time.",null,"george-benson",[],{"quotes":14,"pagination":78},[15,23,29,36,42,48,54,60,66,72],{"id":16,"quote_text":17,"author_id":5,"source_id":18,"has_image":19,"author":20,"source":21,"quote_tag":22,"commentary":10},3677288,"I have seven boys.",7,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":24,"quote_text":25,"author_id":5,"source_id":18,"has_image":19,"author":26,"source":27,"quote_tag":28,"commentary":10},3677227,"Love songs are one of the great essences of life, the only thing that's lasting.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":30,"quote_text":31,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":33,"source":34,"quote_tag":35,"commentary":10},3044089,"My whole career from the early 70s on has been mind-blowing. I didn’t imagine in my life that I would ever be considered a guitar player first of all because I started off as a singer.",6,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":37,"quote_text":38,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":39,"source":40,"quote_tag":41,"commentary":10},3044078,"As my career has progressed, I’ve had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn’t change my desire to entertain folks. That’s really who I am.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":43,"quote_text":44,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":45,"source":46,"quote_tag":47,"commentary":10},3044069,"There is no finer guitarist than Kenny Burrell.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":49,"quote_text":50,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":51,"source":52,"quote_tag":53,"commentary":10},3044059,"Guitar gigs were everywhere in the ’50s, and I started diddling around so I could keep working. Playing honky-tonk, simple stuff. I took a few gigs with an organ band that put me out front.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":55,"quote_text":56,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":57,"source":58,"quote_tag":59,"commentary":10},3044056,"I’ve had the pleasure of playing with the baddest Jazz cats on the planet.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":10},3044054,"People who love jazz musicians love us when we play what we want to play and we’re starving. But as soon as you commercialize your sound like Wes Montgomery did, the jazz fans and the critics are down on you!",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":67,"quote_text":68,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":69,"source":70,"quote_tag":71,"commentary":10},3044029,"The first time I tried to sing along with my guitar, everybody in the studio booed. They all said it wouldn’t work.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":32,"has_image":19,"author":75,"source":76,"quote_tag":77,"commentary":10},3044022,"The melody is the most important thing that must stay in the minds of the people who listen to you. No matter how many notes you play, you can’t let them forget what the song is.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":11,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":10},{},[],{"currentPage":79,"totalPages":18,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":80},1,10]