On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.
Tag Archives: George Benson
Lou Donaldson: Midnight Creeper
In September 1968, “Blue Note” late “Midnight Creeper”, the 30th Lou Donaldson album. It was recorded in March 1968, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff.
Personnel:
- Lou Donaldson – alto saxophone
- Blue Mitchell – cornet
- Lonnie Smith – organ
- George Benson – guitar
- Idris Muhammad – drums
- Forlenza Venosa Associates – design
- Reggie Lavong – liner notes
Track listing:
- Midnight Creeper – Lou Donaldson
- Love Power – Teddy Vann
- Elizabeth – Lou Donaldson
- Bag of Jewels – Lonnie Smith
- Dapper Dan – Harold Ousley
Larry Young: Heaven on Earth
In April 1969, “Blue Note” label released “Heaven on Earth”, the eight Larry Young album. It was recorded in February 1968, at “Rudy Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Larry Young – organ
- Byard Lancaster – alto saxophone, flute
- Herbert Morgan – tenor saxophone
- George Benson – guitar
- Eddie Gladden – drums
- Althea Young – vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Larry Young, except where noted.
- The Infant
- The Cradle
- The Hereafter
- Heaven on Earth
- Call Me – Tony Hatch
- My Funny Valentine – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
George Benson: Body Talk
On August 23, 1973, “CTI” label released “Body Talk”, the eleventh George Benson. It was recorded in July 1973, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.
Personnel:
- George Benson – lead guitar
- Earl Klugh – rhythm guitar
- Harold Mabern – electric piano
- Ron Carter – acoustic bass
- Gary King – electric bass
- Jack DeJohnette – drums
- Mobutu – percussion, congas
- Frank Foster – tenor saxophone
- Gerald Chamberlain – trombone
- Dick Griffin – trombone
- Jon Faddis – trumpet, flugelhorn
- John Gatchell – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Waymon Reed – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Pee Wee Ellis – arrangements, conductor
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
- Bob Ciano – design
- Pete Turner – photography
- Steve Salmieri – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by George Benson, except where noted.
- Dance – George Benson, Pee Wee Ellis
- When Love Has Grown – Donny Hathaway, Gene McDaniels
- Plum
- Body Talk
- Top of the World
George Benson: The Other Side of Abbey Road
In June 1970, “A&M” label released “The Other Side of Abbey Road”, the eight George Benson album. It was recorded October – November 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.
Personnel:
- George Benson – vocals, guitar
- Bob James – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
- Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
- Ernie Hayes – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
- Ron Carter – bass
- Jerry Jemmott – bass
- Idris Muhammad – drums
- Ed Shaughnessy – drums
- Ray Barretto – percussion
- Andy Gonzalez – percussion
- Sonny Fortune – alto saxophone
- Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
- Don Ashworth – baritone saxophone
- Phil Bodner – flute, oboe
- Hubert Laws – flute
- Wayne Andre – trombone, euphonium
- Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
- Mel Davis – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Bernie Glow – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Raoul Poliakin – violin
- Max Pollikoff – violin
- Emanuel Vardi – viola
- George Ricci – cello
- Don Sebesky – arrangements
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
- Sam Antupit – design
- Eric Meola – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.
- Golden Slumbers / You Never Give Me Your Money
- Because / Come Together
- Oh! Darling
- Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison / I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
- Something – George Harrisons / Octopus’s Garden – Richard Starkey / The End
Freddie Hubbard: Sky Dive
In January 1973, “CTI” label released “Sky Dive”, the twentieth Freddie Hubbard album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.
Personnel:
- Freddie Hubbard: trumpet
- Keith Jarrett: piano, electric piano
- George Benson: guitar
- Ron Carter: bass
- Billy Cobham: drums
- Ray Barretto, Airto Moreira: percussion
- Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm: trumpet, flugelhorn
- Wayne Andre, Garnett Brown: trombone
- Paul Faulise: bass trombone
- Tony Price: tuba
- Hubert Laws: flute, alto flute, bass flute
- Phil Bodner: flute, alto flute, bass clarinet, piccolo
- George Marge: alto clarinet, bass clarinet
- Wally Kane: bass clarinet, piccolo
- Romeo Penque: flute, alto flute, clarinet, oboe, English horn
- Don Sebesky: arranger, conductor
- Bob Ciano – design
Track listing:
- Povo – Freddie Hubbard
- In a Mist – Bix Beiderbecke
- The Godfather (Theme) – Nino Rota
- Sky Dive – Freddie Hubbard
George Benson: 20/20
On January 7, 1985, “Warner Bros” label released “20/20”, the 22nd George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 1984, at “Amigo Studios”, “Devonshire Sound Studios”, “Bill Schnee Studios” in Hollywood, “Atlantic Studios”, “A&R Recording”, “Automated Sound Studios”, “Rosebud Recording”, “The Hit Factory”, “the Review Room”, “Avatar Studios”, “Sigma Sound Studios” in New York City, “Grand Slam Studios” in New Jersey, “House of Music” in Orange, NJ, “Bossa Nova Hotel”, “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Russ Titelman, Michael Masser, Daniel Sembello and Michael Sembello.
Personnel:
- George Benson – lead and harmony vocals, guitar
- Michael Sembello – guitars, drum programming, backing vocals
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Cecil Womack – guitar, backing vocals
- David Williams – rhythm guitar
- Freddie Green – rhythm guitar
- Joe Sample – acoustic piano
- Wells Christie – Synclavier programming
- Randy Waldman – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
- James Newton Howard – acoustic piano, synthesizers, string arrangements
- Clifford Carter – keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming
- Rob Mounsey – Synclavier, vocoder, synthesizer bass
- Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes, synthesizer bass
- Daniel Sembello – DX7 Rhodes, synthesizer bass, synthesizers, drum programming, ride cymbal
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizer programming, arrangements
- Randy Goodrum – synthesizer programming, Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
- Barnaby Finch – DX7 Rhodes
- Dave Grusin – string synthesizer, flute
- Neil Larsen – synthesizers
- Randy Kerber – keyboards
- Marcus Miller – bass
- Nathan East – bass
- Earl May – bass
- Anthony Jackson – bass
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Clif Magness – drum programming, track arrangements
- Russ Titelman – drum programming
- Steve Ferrone – additional drums
- Dave Weckl – additional drums, additional cymbals
- Bryan Lee Janszen – Simmons drum programming
- Carlos Vega – drums
- John Robinson – drums
- Steve Kipner – Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
- Rick Shlosser – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Errol “Crusher” Bennett – finger cymbals
- Ralph MacDonald – triangle, percussion
- Gary Herbig – saxophone
- Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone
- Frank Wess – alto saxophone
- Charles Williams – alto saxophone
- Robert Eldridge – baritone saxophone
- George Coleman – tenor saxophone
- Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
- Robin Eubanks – trombone
- Slide Hampton – trombone
- Benny Powell – trombone
- Dave Taylor – trombone
- Gary Grant – trumpet
- Jerry Hey – trumpet, horn arrangements
- Jon Faddis – trumpet
- Earl Gardner – trumpet
- Joe Newman – trumpet
- Lew Soloff – trumpet
- Felix Vega – trumpet
- George Young – flute
- Frank Foster – horn arrangements, conductor
- Ralph Burns – string arrangements, conductor
- Michael Masser – rhythm track arrangements
- Gene Page – rhythm track and string arrangements
- Roberta Flack – lead vocals
- Patti Austin – backing and harmony vocals
- Gordon Grody – backing vocals
- Lani Groves – backing vocals
- Richard Marx – backing vocals
- Deborah Thomas – backing vocals
- James Taylor – backing and harmony vocals
- Linda Womack – backing vocals
- David Cochrane – backing vocals
- Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals
- Russ Titelman – executive producer
- Mary Melia – production coordinator
- Jim Boyer, Lee Herschberg, Gary Ladinsky, Michael Mancini, Elliot Scheiner, Russell Schmitt, Thom Wilson – engineer
- Dick Bogart, Kendal Brown, Dean Burt, John Convertino, Jim Gallagher, Josiah Gluck, Cliff Hodson, John Rollo, Nicholas Spigel – additional engineering
- Michael Abbott, Mike Allaire, Nelson Ayers, Mike Birnholz, Paul Brown, Ollie Cotton, Nick Delre, Paul Higgins, Steve Hirsch, Cliff Jones, Barbara Ivone, Leslie Klein, Robin Laine, Bruce Lampcov, James Nichols, Bobby Warner, Jay Willis – engineer assistant
- Jim Boyer, Ed Rak, Elliot Scheiner, Russ Titelman – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Simon Levy – art direction
- Kav DeLuxe – design
- Richard Bomersheim – photography
Track listing:
- No One Emotion – Cliff Magness, Mark Mueller, Tom Keane
- Please Don’t Walk Away – James Newton Howard, Steve Lukather
- I Just Wanna Hang Around You – Chuz Sembello, Daniel Sembello, Jon Sembello, Michael Sembello
- Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin
- Beyond the Sea (la Mer) – Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence
- 20/20 – Randy Goodrum, Steve Kipner
- New Day – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack
- Hold Me – Michael Sembello, Daniel Sembello
- Stand Up – Neil Larsen
- You Are the Love of My Love – Linda Creed, Michael Masser
Melvin Ragin
On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).
Pee Wee Ellis
On September 24, 2021, Alfred James Ellis aka Pee Wee Ellis died aged 80. He was musician (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, keyboards), arranger and composer, worked as musical director and arranger with George Benson, Hank Crawford and Esther Phillips. Ellis recorded and performed with David Liebman, Jack McDuff, Rebirth Brass Band, Shirley Scott, Sonny Stitt, Leon Thomas, Van Morrison, Ginger Baker’s jazz Confusion, The JB Horns, Maceo Parker, Brass Fever, Ali Farka Touré and The Dapps, but was best known as longtime collaborator of James Brown. He co-wrote and recorded some of Brown’s best-known songs like “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “Cold Sweat”. As leader Ellis released 13 albums.
Paul Griffin
On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.
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