Jazz legend Benson returns to China

Ten-time Grammy award winner, and legendary "guitar man" George Benson will give a concert in Shanghai. Photo provided to China Daily

Video: George Benson Inspiration Trailer

A virtuoso guitarist, Benson started his music career as a child prodigy, playing guitar in a nightclub on weekends when he was only eight. He recorded his first single She Makes Me Mad at the age of 10, under the name of Little Georgie.

Benson worked with different musicians and bands in his early 20s, winning the recognition of maestros such as Miles Davis.

By the 1970s, Benson was a successful jazz guitarist. His album Bad Benson in 1974 topped the Billboard jazz chart, and the follow-ups Good King Bad and Benson & Farrell both became best-sellers of the jazz category.

In his 1976 release 'Breezin', Benson sang lead vocal in This Masquerade. The song became a pop hit and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. It made pop music history as the first jazz release to go platinum — selling 3 million copies.

In recent years, Benson has focused on 1960-70s guitar-playing, and released two cover albums Guitar Man, comprising jazz and pop standards, and Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, released in June this year.

"Nat Cole came from a very different time," Benson told China Daily. "There was lots of prejudice against African Americans and Nat Cole overcame all of it. He was eloquent, well-educated, never belligerent and always loving people.

"To many people the history is over, but I benefited from his story and it's my way of payback."

Benson promised to bring first-class musicians with him to Shanghai, and present both the repertoire, and new songs. "A lot of what they already know," but he will perform updated renditions.

Benson has been designing guitars for Ibanez since 1977. It was the first original guitar design by a musician, and "it changed the company's history".

IF YOU GO

George Benson: Inspiration Tour

8 pm, Sept 3

The Mixing Room and Muse, in the Mercedes-Benz Arena Complex, 1200 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

021-5150-9199.

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