George Franklin Benson Jr. (February 26, 1929 – March 9, 2019) was an American jazz musician and educator.

Background

Benson served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

during the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, where he was stationed in

Oahu Oahu () (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering place#Island of Oʻahu as The Gathering Place, Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over t ...

. Benson later worked for the

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

. As a session musician, Benson appeared on several

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

sessions in the 1960s, particularly with

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...

. In 1983, he recorded with

J. C. Heard James Charles Heard (August 10, 1917 – September 27, 1988) was an American swing, bop, and blues drummer. Biography Heard was born in Dayton, Ohio and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. As a young child, he performed as a tap dancer in a ...

on Heard's first album as leader since 1958, with pianist Claude Black and Canadian bassist Dave Young. Benson co-led an album with Heard in 1988. George was part of the Detroit jazz scene including the Austin Moro Big Band. He was a musical friend of trombonist Al Winters during that time, from the 1970s and on into the 1990s. Benson died on March 9, 2019.Obituary
Retrieved March 11, 2019.

Discography

;As leader/co-leader *''The Key Player'' *1986: ''Detroit's George Benson Swings & Swings & Swings' (Parkwood) *1988: ''Mr. B. with J.C. Heard - Partners in Time'' (Blind Pig Records) *1998: ''Sax Master'' (Alembic Arts Label) ;As sideman *1967: ''

Temptations Live! ''Temptations Live!'' is the first live album to be released by The Temptations. The album was recorded on October 3, 1966, at the Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan. The album cover photograph was taken in March 1966 at The 20 Grand, 14th and Wa ...

'' -

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

*1970: ''The Earl of Funk'' -

Earl Van Dyke Earl Van Dyke (July 8, 1930 – September 18, 1992) was an American soul musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Career Van Dyke, who was born in Detr ...

(Soul Records) *1972: New McKinneys Cotton Pickers (Bountiful Label) *1978: ''Take a Look at Yourself'' - Eddie Russ (Monument Records) *1980: ''The Austin Moro Big Band'' (Locus Label) *1983: ''The Detroit Jazz Tradition - Alive & Well'' - JC Heard (Parkwood) *1988: ''Paradise Valley Ducts'' -

Sammy Price Samuel Blythe Price (October 6, 1908 – April 14, 1992) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. Price's playing is dark, mellow, and relaxed rather than percussive, and he was a specialist at creating the ...

(Parkwood) *1992: ''Live in Concert'' -

Wendell Harrison Wendell Harrison (born October 1, 1942) is an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. Early life and career Wendell Harrison was born in Detroit, Michigan. In Detroit, Harrison began formal jazz studies with pianist Barry Harris. H ...

*1994: ''Time Won't Stop'' - Alma Smith (Valma Music Company) *1997: ''Everybody's Favorite'' - B.B. Queen *1998: ''Unwind: Creative Healing'' - various artists *1998: ''Suite William'' - Bess Bonnier (Noteworks Label) *''The Matt Michaels Trio & Friends'' - Matt Michaels *''The Eyes of Youth'' - Dennis Tini *''Live at Sharaku'' - Miyoko Honma *''A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance'' - Chris Collins *''Parisian Protocol'' - Paul VornHagen *''Swing as You Are'' - Paul VornHagen *''Exordium'' - Brad Felt *''A Monk and a Mingus Among Us'' - Donald Walden *''Jazzscapes'' -

Sheila Landis Sheila Catherine Landis (born September 10, 1953, Detroit, Michigan, United States) is an American jazz, R&B vocalist and songwriter. In 1981, Landis formed her own label, SheLan Records, initially releasing five albums of self-penned material. ...

Publications

* ''Jazz Etudes Over Classic Jazz Changes'' (Houston Publishing)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, George 1929 births 2019 deaths American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American male jazz musicians 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians 20th-century American saxophonists