Editing George Benson (section)

=== Early career ===
Benson was born and raised in the [[Hill District]] of [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name="christianebird-bio">{{cite book |title=The Da Capo Jazz And Blues Lover's Guide to the U.s. |last=Bird |first=Christiane |year=2001 |publisher=[[Da Capo Press]] |isbn=0-306-81034-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/dacapojazzbluesl0000bird/page/196 196] |access-date=September 8, 2012 |url=https://archive.org/details/dacapojazzbluesl0000bird|url-access=registration |quote=Hill District George Benson. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Faith, Health, and Healing in African American Life |last1=Mitchem |first1=Stephanie Y. |last2=Townes |first2=Emilie Maureen |year=2008 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-0-275-99375-7 |page=111 |access-date=September 8, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dBVTH6F7iGAC&q=Hill+District+George+Benson&pg=PA111}}</ref> At the age of seven, he first played the [[ukulele]] in a corner drug store, for which he was paid a few dollars. At age eight, he played guitar<ref name="christianebird-bio" /> in an unlicensed nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights, but the police soon closed the club down. At age nine, he started to record. Out of the four sides he cut, two were released: "She Makes Me Mad" backed with "It Should Have Been Me",<ref name="ReferenceA" /> with [[RCA Victor]] in New York. Although one source indicates this record was released under the name "Little Georgie",<ref name="christianebird-bio" /> the 45rpm label is printed with the name George Benson.  The single was produced by [[Leroy Kirkland]] for RCA's rhythm and blues label, [[Groove Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rootsvinylguide.com/ebay_items/r-b-45-george-benson-it-should-have-been-me-2-groove-hear|title=Roots Vinyl Guide|first=Will|last=Sulzer|website=rootsvinylguide.com}}</ref>

Benson attended Connelley Vocational High School on Bedford Avenue in the Hill District. However, he dropped out, choosing to focus on music.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=George Benson on the Scene on WZUM |url=https://www.wzum.org/jazz-blog/2024/8/08/wzum-the-scene-h |website=WZUM Jazz Pittsburgh |publisher=Pittsburgh Public Media (the owner of [[WZUM-FM]] and affiliated Pittsburgh-area jazz stations)}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In 1987, Benson received an honorary degree from [[Pittsburgh Public Schools]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Seebacher |first1=Noreen |date=30 September 1987 |title=Schools honor dropout George Benson |url=https://www.wzum.org/jazz-blog/2024/8/08/wzum-the-scene-h |access-date=9 August 2024 |work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]] |page=A2 |type=This 1987 ''Pittsburgh Press'' article was scanned into the online blog post of the radio station [[WZUM-FM|WZUM]], which is owned by Pittsburgh Public Media. |format=JPEG}}</ref>

As a youth, Benson learned how to play straight-ahead instrumental jazz during a relationship performing for several years with organist [[Jack McDuff]]. One of his many early guitar heroes was country-jazz guitarist [[Hank Garland]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/hank-garland-living-shadow-his-greatness-wbna5396111|title=Hank Garland living in shadow of his greatness|date=July 8, 2004|publisher=[[Today.com]]|access-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Upchurch|first=Frances|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jIUsAAAAIBAJ&pg=5656,4574705&dq=hank+garland+george+benson&hl=en|title=But Hank Sugarfoot Garland Was To Play His Guitar Again|date=December 20, 1978|newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|access-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref> 

At the age of 21, he recorded his first album as leader, ''[[The New Boss Guitar of George Benson]]'' (1964), featuring McDuff.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> Benson's next recording was ''[[It's Uptown]]'' (1966) with the George Benson Quartet, including [[Lonnie Smith (organist)|Lonnie Smith]] on organ and [[Ronnie Cuber]] on [[baritone saxophone]]. Benson followed it up with ''[[The George Benson Cookbook]]'' (1967), also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber on baritone and drummer Marion Booker.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> [[Miles Davis]] employed Benson in the mid-1960s, featuring his guitar on "Paraphernalia" on his 1968 [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] release, ''[[Miles in the Sky (album)|Miles in the Sky]]'' before Benson went to [[Verve Records]].