Tag Archives: George Benson

Freddie Hubbard

On December 29, 2008, Frederick Dewayne “Freddie” Hubbard died aged 70. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles. He has performed and recorded with many famous musicians including George Benson, Walter Benton, Art Blakey, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, George Cables, Betty Carter, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Drew, Charles Earland, Bill Evan,  Joe Farrell, Curtis Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, J.J. Johnson, Quincy Jones, John Lewis, Kirk Lightsey, Ronnie Mathews, Jackie McLean, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley, Alphonse Mouzon, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Sam Rivers, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Rufus, Poncho Sanchez, Don Sebesky, Wayne Shorter, Leon Thomas, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton and Randy Weston.

Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life

songs_in_the_key_of_life

On September 28, 1976, “Motown” label released “Songs in the Key of Life”, the eighteenth Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded 1974 – 1976: at “Crystal Sound” in Hollywood; “Record Plant” in Los Angeles; “Record Plant” in Sausalito;”The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Stevie Wonder. The original double vinyl album was released with a four-song bonus EP. In 2005, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Song in the Key of Life” at number 57 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”; Diamond in the US by “RIIA”;

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder– vocals, harmonica,  keyboards,  drums, arrangements, programming
  • Michael Sembello– guitar
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow– pedal steel
  • George Benson– vocals, guitar
  • G. “Snuffy” Walden– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Ben Bridges – guitar, sitar
  • Howard “Buzzy” Feiten– guitar
  • Ronnie Foster– organ
  • Herbie Hancock– keyboards, handclapping
  • Greg Phillinganes– keyboards
  • Nathan Watts– vocals, bass guitar, handclapping
  • Gary Olazabal – bass sound, engineer
  • Greg Brown – drums
  • Raymond Lee Pounds – drums
  • Carol Cole – percussion
  • Bobbye Hall– percussion
  • Raymond Maldonado – percussion
  • Carmelo Garcia – percussion, timbales
  • Renee Hardaway – vocals, percussion
  • Nelson Hayes – vocals, percussion, sound effects
  • Jim Horn– saxophone
  • Hank Redd – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • Glen Ferris – trombone
  • George Bohannon – trombone
  • Bobbi Humphrey– flute
  • Dorothy Ashby– harp
  • Deniece Williams– vocals
  • Minnie Riperton– vocals
  • Gary Byrd – vocals
  • Michael Wycoff– vocals
  • Larry Scott – sound effects
  • Jay Boy Adams – vocals
  • Nathan Alford, Jr. – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
  • Edna Orso – vocals, percussion
  • Marietta Waters – vocals, percussion
  • Colleen Carleton – vocals, percussion
  • Larry Latimer – vocals, percussion
  • Amale Mathews – vocals, percussion
  • Josette Valentino – vocals, percussion, handclapping
  • Charles Brewer – vocals, percussion, programming
  • Shirley Brewer – vocals, percussion, speaking part
  • John Fischbach – vocals, percussion, programming, engineer
  • Raymond Maldonado – percussion, trumpet
  • Henry America – vocals
  • Susie Fuzzell – vocals
  • Anthony Givens – vocals
  • Audrey Givens – vocals
  • Derrick Givens – vocals
  • Mildred Givens – vocals
  • Michael Lee Gray – vocals
  • Mimi Green – vocals
  • Susaye Greene Brown– vocals
  • Bhakta Gregory – vocals
  • John Harris – sound effects
  • Jeania Harris – vocals
  • Troy Harris – vocals
  • Terry Hendricks – vocals
  • Adrian Janes – vocals
  • Josie James – vocals
  • Calvin Johnson – vocals
  • Carol Johnson – vocals
  • Patricia Johnson – vocals
  • Madelaine Jones – vocals
  • Bhakta Kevin – vocals
  • Phillip Kimble – vocals
  • James Lambert – vocals
  • Linda Lawrence – vocals
  • Irma Leslie – vocals
  • Kim Lewis – vocals
  • Carl Lockhart – vocals
  • Gail Lockhart – vocals
  • Linda America – vocals
  • Baradras – vocals
  • Brenda Barnett – vocals
  • Khalif Bobatoon – vocals
  • Starshemah Bobatoon – vocals
  • Sudana Bobatoon – vocals
  • Berry Briges – vocals
  • Cecilia Brown – vocals
  • Jean Brown – vocals
  • Rodney Brown – vocals
  • Addie Cox – vocals
  • Agnideva Dasa – vocals
  • Duryodhana Guru Dasa – vocals
  • Jayasacinandana Dasa – vocals
  • Jitamrtyi Dasa – vocals
  • Vedavyasa Dasa – vocals
  • Cinmayi Dasi – vocals
  • Yogamaya Dasi – vocals
  • Carolyn Dennis– vocals
  • Bhakta Eddie – vocals
  • Doe Rani Edwards – vocals
  • Jacqueline F. English – vocals
  • Ethel Enoex – vocals
  • Al Jocko Fann – vocals
  • Barbara Fann – vocals
  • Melani Fann – vocals
  • Shelley Fann – vocals
  • Tracy Fann – vocals
  • Carolyn Massenburg – vocals
  • ArticleMay – vocals
  • Charity McCrary– vocals
  • Linda McCrary-Campbell– vocals
  • Lonnie Morgan – vocals
  • Kim Nixon – vocals
  • Lisa Nixon – vocals
  • Larri Nuckens – vocals
  • Gwen Perry – vocals
  • Gregory Rudd – vocals
  • Rukmini – vocals
  • Yolanda Simmons – vocals, handclapping
  • Keith Slaughter – vocals
  • Rosona Starks – vocals
  • Dennis Swindell – vocals
  • Sundray Tucker – vocals
  • Gary Veney – vocals
  • Sheryl Walker – vocals
  • Mary Lee Whitney – vocals
  • Syreeta Wright– vocals
  • Michael Gray – vocals
  • Susaye Greene – vocals
  • William Moore – vocals
  • Aisha Morris – crying
  • Fountain Jones – programming
  • John Harris – programming
  • Don Hunter – programming, sound effects
  • David Henson – engineer assistant

Track listing:

  1. Love’s in Need of Love Today – Stevie Wonder
  2. Have a Talk with God – Calvin Hardawa, Stevie Wonder
  3. Village Ghetto Land – Gary Byrd, Stevie Wonder
  4. Contusion – Stevie Wonder
  5. Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
  6. I Wish – Stevie Wonder
  7. Knocks Me Off My Feet – Stevie Wonder
  8. Pastime Paradise – Stevie Wonde
  9. Summer Soft – Stevie Wonder
  10. Ordinary Pain – Stevie Wonder
  11. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
  12. Joy Inside My Tears – Stevie Wonder
  13. Black Man – Gary Byrd and Stevie Wonder
  14. Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing – Stevie Wonder
  15. If It’s Magic – Stevie Wonder
  16. As – Stevie Wonder
  17. Another Star – Stevie Wonder

Joe Sample

On September 12, 2014, Joseph Leslie “Joe” Sample died aged 75. He was musician (piano, keyboards) and composer, one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders (Crusaders from 1971), and has performed with some of the biggest names of the contemporary music, including Miles Davis, The Supremes, George Benson, B.B King, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eric Clapton and Steely Dan.

Miles Davis: Miles in the Sky

MilesDavis_Miles In The Sky

On July 22, 1968, “Columbia” label released “Miles in the Sky”, studio album by Miles Davis. It was recorded January 16 and May 15-17, 1968, at “Columbia Studio B” in New York, and was produced by Teo Marcero. It was first Miles album to include electric bass and electric piano.

Personnel:

  • Miles Davis– trumpet, cornet
  • Wayne Shorter– tenor saxophone
  • Herbie Hancock– piano, electric piano
  • George Benson– electric guitar
  • Ron Carter– bass, electric bass
  • Tony Williams– drums

Track listing:

  1. Stuff – Miles Davis
  2. Paraphernalia – Wayne Shorter
  3. Black Comedy – Tony Williams
  4. Country Son – Miles Davis

Eric Gale

On May 25, 1984, Eric J. Gale died aged 55. He was musician (guitar) and composer,  as session guitarist has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names of the music scene, including Clark Terry, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy McGriff, Benny Golson, Van Morrison, Bernard Purdie, Herbie Mann, Yusuf Lateef, Chico Hamilton, Sonny Stitt, Quincy Jones, Al Kooper, Lena Horn, Gabor Szabo, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Esther Philips, Chuck Rainey, Johnny Hammond, Stanley Turrentine,  David Newman, Hank Crawford, Grover Washington, Jr., Roberta Flack, Stanley Turrentine, Hubert Laws, Bob James, Joe Higgs, Van McCoy, Ron Carter, George Benson, Phil Upchurch, Tom Scott, Idris Muhammad, Ashford & Simpson, Cedar Walton, Stanley Turrentine, Blood, Sweat & Tears,  Paul Butterfield, Joe Cocker and David Ruffin. As leader he released twelve albums.

Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On

Whats+Going+On

On May 21, 1971, “Tamla” label released “What’s Going On”, the eleventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded June –September 1970; March – May 1971,  at “Hitsville U.S.A.”, “Golden World”, and “United Sound Studios” in Detroit and “The Sound Factory” in Hollywood, and was produced by Marvin Gaye. “What’s Going On” was an immediate success both commercially and critically, and is regarded as one of the most important albums in the music history. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number six on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1985, readers of “NME” magazine voted “What’s Going On” the “Best Album of all Time”. “Guardian” ranked “What’s Going On at number one on its list of the “100 Best Albums Ever”.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals, piano, mellotron, box drum
  • The Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted and arranged by David Van De Pitte
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Solo Horns – instrumentation
  • Joe Messina, Robert White– electric guitars
  • Jack Ashford– tambourine, percussion
  • Earl Van Dyke– keyboards
  • Johnny Griffith– celeste, keyboards
  • Max Janowsky – double bass
  • James Jamerson– bass guitar
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Chet Forest – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown– bongos, congas
  • Earl DeRouen – bongos, congas
  • Bobbye Hall– bongos
  • Jack Brokensha– vibraphone, percussion
  • Larry Nozero, Angelo Carlisi, George Benson, Tate Houston– saxophone
  • Eli Fontaine– alto saxophone
  • Wild Bill Moore– tenor saxophone
  • John Trudell, Maurice Davis – trumpet
  • Nilesh Pawar – oboe
  • Carl Raetz – trombone
  • Dayna Hardwick, William Perich – flutes
  • Gordon Staples, Zinovi Bistritzky, Beatriz Budinzky, Richard Margitza, Virginia Halfmann, Felix Resnick, Alvin Score, Lillian Downs, James Waring – violin
  • Edouard Kesner, Meyer Shapiro, David Ireland, Nathan Gordon – viola
  • Italo Babini, Thaddeus Markiewicz, Edward Korkigan – cello
  • Carole Crosby – harp
  • The Andantes – Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps – backing vocals
  • Mel Farr, Charlie Sandersand  and Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions – backing vocals
  • Dave Bingof, The Detroit Pistons, Bobby Rogersof , The Miracles, Elgie Stover, Kenneth Stover – backing vocals
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Katherine Marking – design
  • Alana Coghlan – design
  • James Hendin – photography

Track listing:

  1. What’s Going On – Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo “Obie” Benson
  2. What’s Happening Brother – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  3. Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky) – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  4. Save the Children – Al Cleveland, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Marvin Gaye
  5. God is Love – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin Gaye
  7. Right On – Earl DeRouen, Marvin Gaye
  8. Wholy Holy – Renaldo “Oboe” Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
  9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr,

Idris Muhammad

On July 29, 2014, Leo Morris aka Idris Muhammad died aged 73. He was musician (drums, percussion), whose drumming crossed over several musical styles including funk, jazz, and rhythm and blues and has performed and recorded extensively with number of musicians, including  Pharoah Sanders, Gene Ammons, Fats Domino, Roberta Flack, Grover Washington, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, Lou Donaldson, Bob James, Randy Weston, Bobbi Humphrey, Andrew Hill, Bob Stewart, Sonny Stitt, Ahmad Jamal, John Scofield, George Coleman, Paul Desmond, Grant Green, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Lovano, Tisziji Munoz, Roots, Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, Reuben Wilson and Leon Spencer.

Louis Johnson

On May 21, 2015, Louis Johnson died aged 60. He was musician (bass), founding member of funk band the “Brothers Johnson” and one of the most demanded bass players. Johnson performed on Quncy Jones albums “Body Heat” and “Mellow Madness”, Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall”,  “Thriller” and “Dangerous” and hit songs “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”. Johnson also performed on George Benson’s album “Give Me the Night”.