Benson: The Autobiography

I had the pleasure of meeting George when he played the Wendover, Utah Peppermill Concert Hall. Met him poolside and spent several hours conversing with him and learning about his past and his present activities other than performing. I found George to be a marvelous and very intriguing person who was more interested in my girlfriend and me instead of himself. There has to be an ego to accomplish all he has accomplished but it is totally under control. The book is truly enjoyable and shows the struggles of a poor kid, Little Georgie, growing up in the poorer area of Pittsburgh. You might think he had a lot of lucky breaks, but as a businessman and founder of several companies, I know that the only lucky breaks that exist are those that you create. It is an intriguing and amazing story about how George rose from a little kid with a hand made guitar to become one of the world's greatest guitarists. Enjoyable to read. Written as it would have delivered verbally by George. All in all, very enjoyable. His book is as intriguing as the man himself and I can say nothing other than "read it", particularly if you have aspirations to do something more in the future than you're doing at present. Ongoing drive and reaching for higher goals is defined in the book and are the basic rules of success. Thanks for inviting us backstage and the added pleasure of meeting your son and the rest of your crew. Thanks George for achieving the success you've achieved and bringing us music we've enjoyed for years and will continue to enjoy. Ray & Roxane

I am enjoying reading this book. It gives this view that there is a lot of hard work involved in becoming undoubtedly one of the most copied guitarist. I especially liked that I have learned that hard work and sticktoiteveness is a vital component of any worthwhile undertaking and that you will undoubtedly take your hits along the way. As the name say it is an autobiography, and it does that well from George Benson's early years as a lad growing up impoverished and not realizing that he was impoverished. A scenario that a lot of us can identify with. The book also gave me a perspective on other musicians that are met along the way and how many of them contributed, some in major ways, others just positive, others negative, but all contributions that have let to the outcome in George Benson that we enjoy very much today and have been enjoying for many years. In the book he refers to a Gibson super 400 CES that he had bought for a thousand dollars and because of hard times had to pawn it for $72. He referred to it there as his boss Guitar and I wonder if that was the guitar that he had used on the album(CD) "The New Boss Guitar of George Benson". On the book cover he is seen holding a Gibson Super 400 CES, the name Gibson appears to have been dogged(Photoshopped) out of the picture, I wonder why that was done. Since the guitar was new, the name would have been clearly seen. We meet many of the greats even in passing in this book, very enjoyable reading.

I have always been a big fan of George Benson. The Breezin' album is the sound that comes to mind when I think of college. I really enjoyed reading about George's beginnings in music. I got an education in "Jazz Cats" and although I have listened to those various artists over the years on jazz stations I knew very little about how they all connected. It was so fun to hear how my favorite songs came to be created. I added more of his songs to my ipod and I now go down the highway hearing his music surrounding me in my car and I hear it differently after reading his book. I listen for all the parts that helped to create his unique sound. Only disappointment was how little reference there was to family in the book.

A friend of mine turned me on to George Benson when I was 18 the year his White Rabbit album came out. That record completely blew my mind. That day I walked away from Rock & Roll. George Benson is the reason I am a jazz guitarist to this day. I have spent my whole life trying to be half the guitar player that George is. Been to countless GB concerts and always walk away completely blown away. George is a super hero to me. I loved his book. I read it in 2 days. I could not put it down. I wish it was 2,000 pages instead of 200 but still a fantastic read. George is one of the last walking history books on jazz artists of the past. He tells his musical story in that wonderful 60's jazz lingo that makes it a joy to read. George worked with some pretty nasty cats in his career but always finds a way to say something positive about them. George is a very Godly man and I have found that all the greatest musicians have a close walk with the Lord. I meet Barney Kessel once and asked him how I could get better playing guitar and he told me to get close to God. The Lord certainly gave the world a great gift by the name of George Benson. If you are a George Benson fan (who isn't) get this book !!!! It is a real fun read. Thank you so much Mr.Benson.

This was an awesome book! Great stories about the music business and about his career. There are only two things wrong with this book: one, we're told almost nothing about his current family life (we hear an anecdote about a domestic problem with his wife at the start of his career, but it's not clear if he left her, if his current wife is this same woman or what; and two, he doesn't tell you how he gained his formidable technique. He did, however, drop a million dollar idea while he was talking (as he did in his instructional videotape). He's one of those people, like Oprah, that I'd like to hang out with for a weekend and just listen to him talk because he will eventually, like Oprah and others, casually hand you a million dollar idea (drop a jewel).

George Benson was an enigma to me as a teenager and even today. His ability to sing while playing his riffs and be in such collaboration is a skill unimaginable. As a writer he collaborates words into meaningful syntax which allows readers to feel his life as if we were with him all the time. For me this book is exactly how he felted about Give Me The Night, " driving around music". George took me to parts of his life that made me remember parts of my life with his music and make me see blessings and joy.

I've probably been to as many George Benson concerts as George himself. Begining when I 15 yrs old and seeing him live for the first time. There was a jazz club in my neighborhood called the York club. There were probably only seven people total in the club that night. Geeorge, his organist and drummer; me, my sister and a buddy of mine; and the bar tender. That was it. But George Benson played like he was at Carnegie Hall with a full house. He played so much guitar I can still see and hear it in my mind today 45 yrs later. He even let my buddy and I get on stage during intermission and play a tune on his guitar and organ. A few years later just before Breezin hit he performed at a club in Hermosa Beach Ca. I got there early and was sitting by the door waiting. George walks up with his equipment and asked me if i would watch it for him so he could go get something to eat. I said sure and he left. I felt the greatest privilege and honor had been given me. The opportunity to watch the great George Bensons guitar and amp. The story doesn't end there (I guess I should write my own GB book). When he returned, he asked if I had a car because he needed a ride to his hotel that was close by. I said sure. I took him there, waited and returned him to the club. I was on cloud nine...thousand! My idol riding in my (raggedy) car. He played the concert an of course tore the place apart.

A great read, George Benson has also been an outstanding entertainer. I saw him this summer and was elated to he had an autobiography coming out. The book is very inciteful and inspirational, I highly recommend this book to anyone who want to know more about this great artist. An American Treasure!!!!