George Benson on success, critics and staying true to himself

WBGO | By Sarah Geledi,

Trevor Smith

Published September 19, 2024 at 5:31 PM EDT

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 has: platinum records, a record of the year Grammy, four Top 10 hits. But from behind the gilded veil of fame, Benson鈥檚 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 , and , among others.

When his fame started reaching new heights in the 1970s, though, the jazz community took umbrage at his success. 鈥淓verybody I know in the jazz world who cut a record that was exceptional or went out in front of everybody else鈥� [was] criticized for doing it.鈥� Benson says. 鈥淭hey said, 鈥榃ell, it鈥檚 too commercial.鈥� In other words: It appealed to too many people, so something鈥檚 got to be wrong with it.鈥�

George Benson released a "lost" album called Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon this year. — 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 鈥渓ost鈥� album, Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon, and his principles as an artist. 鈥淢y life does not depend on what the next man is doing,鈥� Benson says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what I do.鈥�

Set List:

鈥淟ove is Blue鈥� (Bryan Blackburn / Pierre Cour / Andr茅 Popp), from the album Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon (Rhino)
鈥淎 Song for You鈥� (Leon Russell), from the album Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon (Rhino)
鈥淭he Cooker鈥� (George Benson), from the album The George Benson Cookbook (Columbia)
鈥淭his Masquerade鈥� (Russell), from the album 叠谤别别锄颈苍鈥� (Warner Bros.)
鈥淪tella by Starlight鈥� (Victor Young), from the album Tenderly (Warner Bros.)
鈥淭he Greatest Love of All鈥� (Michael Masser, Linda Creed), from The Greatest [Original Soundtrack] (Arista)
鈥淒eeper Than You Think鈥� (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.

Tags

NPR Jazz

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.

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George Benson on success, critics and staying true to himself