Benson: The Autobiography

by George Benson, Alan Goldsher

Over the span of his illustrious five-decade career, George Benson has sold millions of records, performed for hundreds of millions of fans, and cut some of the most beloved jazz and soul tunes in music history. But the guitarist/vocalist is much more than "This Masquerade," "On Broadway," "Turn Your Love Around," and "Give Me the Night." Benson is a flat-out inspiration, a multitalented artist who survived an impoverished childhood and molded himself into the first true—and truly successful—jazz/soul crossover artist. And now, on the heels of receiving the prestigious NEW Jazz Masters award, George has finally decided to tell his story. And what a story it is.

The Autobiography follows George's remarkable rise from the ghettos of Pittsburgh to the stages of South Africa, and everywhere in between. George Benson is an unparalleled storyteller, and his tales of scuffling on the Chitlin Circuit with jazz legend Brother Jack McDuff, navigating his way through the recording studio with Miles Davis, and performing with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Quincy Jones, Benny Goodman, Rod Stewart, Chaka Khan, Count Basie, and Lou Rawls will enthrall devotees of both music history and pop culture.

A treat for serious listeners, hardcore guitar aficionados, and casual music followers alike, George's long-awaited book allows readers to meet the man who is one of the most beloved, prolific, and bestselling musicians of his or any other era.

Genres: Music, Autobiography, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 27, 2014

About the author

George Benson is an American musician, guitarist, and singer-songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 21 as a jazz guitarist. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt.

Reviews

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book about George Benson, I found it to be a very interesting. I did not know that he was from Pittsburgh, PA. But he talks about his family life his mom and his step farther. He gave some credit to him for not only getting him interested in the guitar but also with the different jazz musicians. The different styles of jazz one person was Charlie Christian, he played in Benny Goodman’s band and with a few others before he passed at the age of 23 in 1941, but he left a lot of music. He goes on to talk about how by the time he was a teenager he was already playing in some clubs where he was not of age to drink. But he was always looking to make himself better. He would start playing with a band then they would move on to New York and then be back home again. Finally word spread in New York, like Pittsburgh and he was starting to get more jobs. He liked the idea of not being tied down to one band. But when Miles Davis called him could not say know. But like all of the other bands he was with it was only for a short time. After the sixties he had a few solo records but was still known for his work with other artists. He signed with CTI, known for jazz records he had a top seller in 74 with Bad Benson and two other records released later also were top sellers as well. By 75 he was with Warner Bros records, he was always looking to do his own record not be tied down by a producer who does not know music especially jazz. Then in 76 he released Breezin, this record was a huge hit and “This Masquerade” one the Grammy that year for record of the year. Still one of the best jazz records. He also did a PBS special with Benny Goodman, and he felt like he came full circle as a youngster listening to Charlie Christian play and now here he was playing in the same band. But after that he went on and is still making records or cds and still does concerts. A good story about a fantastic musician. I got this book from net galley.

[Randall Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, you learn the importance of the double diminished scale, developing hip substitute chords, and creative musical value of taking “the past to heart, then take it to the future!”. George tells a hugely instructive story about John Coltrane going to hear Charlie Parker for the first time and what happened afterwards that is worth the price of the book alone on page 96. George also teaches that playing with just bass and drums will make you find your own voice fast and jazz improv ends up just playing what is in your head and heart reflecting what you are processing. When you practice a lot you will only remember 10% of whatever you are working on but by practicing more things you have more ideas when you are soloing. The only way to understand a song is to experiment and play with it. This book could have been a lot more instructive, since I’ve mentioned basically all I learned from it besides learning more facts of his life story, but I still give it four stars.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guitarist and singer George Benson has operated over a range of Jazz, Blues, R & B and Soul both as a singer and player from his early days in an organ quartet with Brother Jack McDuff, to his days as a sideman to band leader, to the heights of his monster "Breezin'" disc to his steady career since doing solid innovative work. This memoir covers all he's learned and done along the way and provides a really great education in most of the history of jazz, including shout-outs to lots of less-than-household names who also contributed some great music to the world. An outstanding volume. - BH.

[jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok memoir of one of my favorite musicians, its narration seems honest, but rather superficial. It's heavy on name-dropping, but light on insight. What I most missed was any discussion about the process of creativity- what about Benson's style and skills that make him unique? Perhaps that's a topic in another book.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite autobiography!

[Demetria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I had never watched an interview with George Benson. I certainly knew who he was and had heard his music, but I had never heard him talk. Singing and playing don't count. But with the way this autobiography is written, I feel like I can "hear" Benson and he sounds like one of my uncles. He refers to people as "cats" and frequently includes the adjective "baaaaad" to describe a particularly good musician. While I greatly appreciate all of the details about music included in this memoir, the lack of details about family life is troubling. I suppose for a musician who spends a lot of time on the road, perhaps Benson did not spend oodles of time with family. He only mentions his son in a vital newborn moment. However, he very briefly mentions a domestic violence dispute (he laid hands on his wife as a very young man) and his heroic efforts to keep his son alive. His son had a disease that madehis chances for living very slim. In the book, Benson noted that not only did his son live as a newborn, but he lived for another "thirty something years." Thirty something? You don't know how long your son lived his evidently brief life? I looked it up myself and found that his son was shot to death at 29 years old outside of a bar. There was literally no page space devoted to that tragedy. That's weird and gross not to mention such a thing. For all of those things, this is a book I can only "like."

[Denys Povaliy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Джордж Бенсон - одно из редчайших явлений в современной музыке, умудрившийся выпускать настолько разноплановые альбомы и в то же время оставаться собой, сменяя только музыкантов, продюсеров и лейблы.

Книга изобилует отсылками к классическим альбомам и артистам, вдохновлявшим музыканта на протяжении уникальной карьеры. Джордж влюбил в себя еще больше своим глубочайшим уважением к коллегам и скромностью, которыми пропитана каждая страница! Как жаль что книга закончилась на самом иньересном. Поэтому требуем продолжения, в особенности больше информации о личной жизни)) Спасибо...

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the song "On Broadway" but I'm not a real fan of Jazz but after reading this book I want to be. My only complaint is there is very little mentioned about his family except for his mother, stepfather and a little about a son who was ill as a child.

[Bookcat88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific autobiography! A must read for Benson fans for sure. Well written, fast paced, and thorough. If you are a music lover, jazz aficionado, guitarist, or just someone who appreciates a good autobiography - check this one out.

[MsWilliamsWorld · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://soultrain.com/2014/10/16/book-...

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much of a personal memoir, but a perfect recap of a great career working with Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, Quincy Jones, Creed Taylor, Herbie Hancock, and Wes Montgomery(!) among many others.

[JDK1962 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. One of those books by a musician where you wind up with a list of records and artists to check out.

[Joomi Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was too short for me. I was disappointed that he didn't explain how he became a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

He talks about turning down a record deal as a young boy because he'd made a promise to his mother.

Mostly the book is about the people who had an influence on his music and the different people he worked with in the music industry.

It does bother that he has jet black hair at his age. I wonder if he knows that hair dye increases the probability of cancer.

I enjoy the following life stories of musical artists who became Jehovah's Witnesses:

Larry Graham
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/...

Country Music's in My Blood
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/...

Benny Golson
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/...

[Berat Onur Ersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography was more like a history of jazz book from 50's to today.
I've learned many artist, many stories, key people in history of jazz and most importantly I learned about George Benson.

If you'd like to get a really overwhelming grasp on history of jazz music, this will be your book.
While reading I created a playlist on Spotify and added each and every song, artist Benson tells about.

(It may be a little more interesting to you if you are into music, playing, producing, understanding it.Especially jazz genre...)

After reading this book;
once again, I wished that I was living in 60's to 80's, witnessing the phenomenal era that music understanding in world evolved, enhanced.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life of inspiration

George Benson was an enigma to me as a teenager and even today. His ability to sing while playing his riffs and be in such collaboration is a skill unimaginable. As a writer he collaborates words into meaningful syntax which allows readers to feel his life as if we were with him all the time. For me this book is exactly how he felted about Give Me The Night, " driving around music". George took me to parts of his life that made me remember parts of my life with his music and make me see blessings and joy.

[Joomi Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The library book I read felt like an abridged version. I would like to read a less concise version.

[Gary Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. (Too bad it has a foreword by Bill Cosby. Of course, that was before we knew what a scumbag he was).