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George Benson on success, critics and staying true to himself

George Benson says that at the height of his commercial success in the 1970s, he faced a backlash from the jazz community. "[If] it appealed to too many people ... something's got to be wrong with it."
Matt Furman © Rhino-WMG
/
Courtesy of the artist
George Benson says that at the height of his commercial success in the 1970s, he faced a backlash from the jazz community. "[If] it appealed to too many people ... something's got to be wrong with it."

Few musicians have seen the success that guitarist, vocalist and cultural icon George Benson has: platinum records, a record of the year Grammy, four Top 10 hits. But from behind the gilded veil of fame, Benson’s immaculate chops shine through. He began working on the scene as a guitarist when he was an 8-year-old back in Pittsburgh, Pa., and those chops led to gigs with jazz luminaries Brother Jack McDuff, Lou Donaldson and Lee Morgan, among others.

When his fame started reaching new heights in the 1970s, though, the jazz community took umbrage at his success. “Everybody I know in the jazz world who cut a record that was exceptional or went out in front of everybody else… [was] criticized for doing it.” Benson says. “They said, ‘Well, it’s too commercial.’ In other words: It appealed to too many people, so something’s got to be wrong with it.”

George Benson released a "lost" album called Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon this year.
Matt Furman © Rhino-WMG / Courtesy of the artist
/
Courtesy of the artist
George Benson released a "lost" album, called Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon, this year.

In this very special episode, host Christian McBride sits down with Benson to talk about his decades-long career in the spotlight, his new “lost” album, Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon, and his principles as an artist. “My life does not depend on what the next man is doing,” Benson says. “It’s what I do.”

Set List:

  • “Love is Blue” (Bryan Blackburn / Pierre Cour / André Popp), from the album Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon (Rhino)
  • “A Song for You” (Leon Russell), from the album Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon (Rhino)
  • “The Cooker” (George Benson), from the album The George Benson Cookbook (Columbia)
  • “This Masquerade” (Russell), from the album Breezin’ (Warner Bros.)
  • “Stella by Starlight” (Victor Young), from the album Tenderly (Warner Bros.)
  • “The Greatest Love of All” (Michael Masser, Linda Creed), from The Greatest [Original Soundtrack] (Arista)
  • “Deeper Than You Think” (Joe Sample), from the album Absolute Benson (GRP/Verve)

Credits:

Sarah Geledi, writer and producer; Trevor Smith, consulting producer; Simon Rentner, consulting editor; Ron Scalzo, mastering; Steven A. Williams, executive producer; Suraya Mohamed, executive producer at NPR Music; Keith Jenkins, vice president of visuals and music strategy at NPR; Christian McBride, host.

Copyright 2024 WBGO

Sarah Geledi
Sarah Geledi left her job in advertising in Montreal to pursue a career in music in New York City. She fulfilled that mission, producing content for the JAM Festival at WBGO, segments for The Checkout, and programs for WWOZ and PRI's Afropop Worldwide. She also served as a producer for NYC Winter Jazzfest before landing the "job of her dreams," producing radio for Jazz Night in America.
Trevor Smith
Trevor joined the WBGO Development Department in April of 2017 and currently handles grant writing and institutional giving initiatives as the Coordinator of Corporate and Foundation Relations.Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2011, Trevor has worked extensively in the jazz community in fundraising, events, and artist management capacities.