Throwback: Happy 82nd Birthday, George Benson!

2025 is rushing by. It’s March. And March is a very busy month in music history. 

• The Who frontman  Roger Daltrey celebrated his 81st birthday on March 1
• Karen Carpenter was born 75 years on March 2
• Lou Reed one of the most influential figures of the past 75 years or so, was born 83 years ago on March 2
•  Method Man celebrated his 54th birthday on March 2
• Tone Lōc celebrated his 59th birthday on March 3
• The legendary soul artist Bobby Womack was born on this day 81 years ago
• Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted celebrated his 62nd birthday on March 4
• Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour celebrated his 79th birthday on March 6
• The Monkees‘ Mickey Dolenz celebrated his 80th — yes, 80th! — birthday on March 8
• The pioneering Ornette Coleman was born 95 years ago on March 9
• U2‘s Adam Clayton celebrates his 65th — yes, 65th! — birthday on March 13
• Roy Haynes was born 100 years ago on March 13
• The legendary Lightnin’ Hopkins was born 113 years ago on March 15
• Sly and the Family Stone frontman Sly Stone celebrated his 82nd birthday on March 15
• Public Enemy‘s Flavor Flav celebrated his 66th birthday on March 16
• Smashing Pumpkins founder and frontman Billy Corgan celebrated his 58th on March 17
• The legendary Wilson Pickett, one of the major figures in the development and popularization of soul music was born on this day 84 years ago on March 18
• The wildly talented and breathtakingly beautiful Vanessa Williams celebrated her 62nd birthday on March 18
• Queen Latifah, one of the most regal, powerful and defiantly feminist artists in hip-hop history celebrated her 55th — yes, 55th! — birthday on March 18
• The legendary Lee “Scratch” Perry was born 89 years ago on March 20 
• The legendary bluesman Edward James “Son” House was born 122 years ago on March 21
• DJ Premier, one of hip-hop’s greatest and most beloved producers celebrated his 59th birthday on March 21 

George Benson, arguably one of the greatest vocalists and guitarists to ever live, celebrates his 82nd birthday today. Benson was a child prodigy, whose professional career started when he turned 19, playing soul jazz with the likes of Jack McDuff and others.

He then launched a wildly successful solo career, a career that has seen him bouncing between soul, R&B, jazz, pop and scat singing. 1976’s Breezin’ was certified triple platinum, while hitting #1 on the Billboard Top 100 Charts. And throughout his career, he has won 10 Grammy Awards — and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

As a small boy, I would hear a ton of Benson’s songs while in my dad’s car. He’d have the smooth jazz station on the radio. The song I remember hearing the most — and had grown quite fond of for a period of time — was his version of “On Broadway.”

Happy birthday, sir! May there be many, many more!