Source Material: George Benson – “Turn Your Love Around”

George Benson is one of the most well-known guitarist and vocalist of all-time.  Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Benson’s musical prowess began at the age of seven.  He played the ukulele at a neighboring drug store, and one year later, he was playing guitar at an unlicensed club on the weekends.  At 10 years old, he recorded his first single, “She Makes Me Mad,” with RCA-Victor.  However, while his ascension as an artist started young, it wasn’t until the ’60s (and especially in the late ’70s/early ’80s) that his career morphed into what we know it as today.

In the ’60s, under the tutelage of Jazz organist and bandleader “Brother” Jack McDuff, Benson began to find his stride.  McDuff hired Benson as a guitarist in his band in 1963 and the addition led to immediate success. In 1964, after recording two albums under McDuff’s band, Benson released his first album as a bandleader, The New Boss Guitar of George Benson, which featured McDuff on organ.  The two continued to record throughout the ’60s (largely under McDuff’s band), until Benson began to evolve as his own artist.  In between his work as a solo artist, Benson continued his work as a sideman with artists like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Wes Montgomery.

After a period in the ’60s and ’70s as a solo artist (who experienced more success as a sideman), everything changed for George Benson when he released Breezin in 1976.  His album became one of the best selling Jazz records of all time.  It was certified triple platinum and he won three grammy awards for three different songs.  His next five albums went either Platinum or Gold. The George Benson Collection (1981) was one of the albums that went gold. It featured “Turn Your Love Around,” another hit, and a song that’s special to me.  I think “Turn Your Love Around,” much like his entire career is a model of resilience and consistency.