12/7/2023 0 Comments George benson take five liveI wanted people to get a message when they heard me play or sing. He made the saxophone tell stories, and that's what I wanted to do. Then I knew what it was I should be doing. But jazz itself didn't have an amazing impact on me until I heard Charlie Parker. That's how I got hooked on the jazz guitar. He was something of a phenomenon at the time. I knew every note in those records by whoever was playing solos, especially Charlie Christian, the guitar player. I heard those records day in and day out. His records were Charlie Christian with Benny Goodman, the King of Swing. And he brought his records with him and his guitar. My stepfather met my mother when I was seven years old. When did you fall in love with jazz? Do you remember? Or was that just a gradual thing that happened for you? But it was the beginning of my career and people began to know me as Little Georgie Benson, the singer. That was tough because the law didn't allow that. How'd you get in the nightclub at that age? When I was seven years old, I played in a nightclub called Little Paris, and it was a pretty swinging joint. I tried to play banjo but that was a little too stiff for me and a heavy instrument. Benson, you don't know how big you are going to be.” Years later, I said to myself, “How the heck did they know?” They knew something I didn't know. I got infected by it, and people used to tell me when I was a kid, “You know something, Mr. She loved music and passed that on to me. My mother was only 15 years old when I was born, and it was right after her 15th birthday. She was young enough that we almost grew up together. I couldn't get those songs out of my head. She loved those highly emotional movies and musicals. My mother was a person who just loved music. What do you remember about those days? Were you even aware that you had something special or was it just all kind of fun for you? At an early age, you got used to being in front of people who were amazed by your talent, even as a little kid. So I was out of the public's way, which was very nice for us. But we had to live according to the instructions given us and keep the place safe. Well, first of all, getting over it, staying out the way of being infected was tough. How'd you spend that time away from the rest of the world? I tell you what, being here at WBGO has just meant the world to me. You carry a very strong voice in jazz music and we appreciate having you around. I'm so glad you're still associated with us. Pat Prescott: George, it’s so good to see you. George and I caught up with what he’s been up to lately, but he also talked with me about his early years learning to play the guitar and jazz. He headlines at NJPAC in Newark on June 2, and we are excited to welcome him back to a city in which he has been performing since playing with Jimmy Smith and others back in the day. The popular guitarist and singer is preparing for his only concert performance in the Northeast this Spring and Summer. He’s an NEA Jazz Master and a 10-time Grammy winner who is in the seventh decade of his recording career, which started when he was only nine years old, as "Little Georgie" Benson. George Benson is a living legend and he’s still going strong.
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