Segerstrom Center Welcomes Guitarist and Singer George Benson Tonight

Ten-time Grammy Award-winning artist and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master George Benson returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for one night only tonight, March 27 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

The evening's program includes the greatest hits from Benson's career, which spans more than 50 years. A genius guitarist and versatile musician, Benson has crossed seamlessly over many musical genres, from swing to bop to R&B to pop to scat singing. His music and influence continue to inspire. The French electronic duo Daft Punk recently shared in an Entertainment Weekly interview that Benson's 1980 hit "Give Me the Night" is "the song we play to get pumped before a night out."

Tickets for George Benson start at $39 and will go on sale Sunday, October 26 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets will be available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746.

Perhaps best known for his contemporary popular music in multiple genres, George Benson has created more than 30 recordings as a leader, winning 10 Grammy Awards as well as becoming a NEA Jazz Master. Benson has used his jazz roots as the foundation for an engaging mix of pop, R&B and other shades that add up to a style that appeals to a broad mainstream audience. Along the way, he has also established himself as a formidable singer - one whose biggest career hits have showcased his vocals as well as his guitar chops. Benson continues to astound and engage audiences taking his creative expression to new heights.

Appreciated as both a musician and performer by millions, Benson has always had the dual role of expert improviser and vibrant entertainer. He has consistently placed his keenly discerning art in the service of a rousing good time. Rounding out his singular approach with sly, seductive rhythm and blues, he has earned himself an impeccable reputation as one of music's most enterprising and engaging stars.

Few might have predicted that striking level of stardom some fifty years ago, when Benson was a fledgling guitarist working the corner pubs of his native Pittsburgh. It was Wes Montgomery, one of jazz's most creative players, who came across Benson early on. Montgomery had called one of his best records Boss Guitar and Benson had both the conviction and chops to nip at his hero's heels. In the early 1960s, Benson apprenticed with jazz organist Brother Jack McDuff and released The New Boss Guitar in 1964. By the time legendary talent scout John Hammond signed Benson to Columbia, the guitarist's name was bubbling throughout the industry. In the late '60s, he sat in on Miles Davis sessions, and also put a personal spin on the tunes from the Beatles' Abbey Road.

In the 70s, Benson was united with many of jazz's finest instrumentalists, including Stanley Turrentine, Ron Carter and Freddie Hubbard, and in 1976 with Warner Bros. Records, he recorded Breezin', the first jazz record to attain platinum sales. He followed up with many pop hits, including a sultry version of "On Broadway" and the irresistible "Give Me the Night," which thrilled many a dancer. During this time, Benson also concentrated on developing his vocal talents. He was now a superstar.

Throughout the 1980s, Warner Bros. and Tony LiPuma followed their smash success with several terrific Benson records. Individually, they blended grooves and guitar work, proving that R&B was a natural part of Benson's profile. Collectively, they cemented his global renown.

In August 2014, Benson's memoir titled Benson: The Autobiography was released. It chronicles the self- taught musical prodigy's rise to fame, from his humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to his legendary career where he now performs in sold out venues around the world and continues to thrill audiences with his playing.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is unique as both an acclaimed arts institution and as a multi- disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.

Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center traces its roots back to the late 1960s when a dedicated group of community leaders decided Orange County should have its own world-class performing arts venue.

As Orange County's largest non-profit arts organization, Segerstrom Center for the Arts owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Founders Hall, which opened in 1986, and the 2,000-seat Rene?e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses the 500-seat Samueli Theater, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center's studio performance space and Boeing Education Lab. A spacious arts plaza anchors Segerstrom Center for the Arts and is home to numerous free performances throughout the year as part of Segerstrom Center for the Arts' ongoing Free for All series.

The Center presents a broad range of programming each season for audiences of all ages from throughout Orange County and beyond, including international ballet and dance, national tours of to Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events. It offers many education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. These programs reach hundreds of thousands of students of all ages with vital arts-in-education programs, enhancing their studies and enriching their lives well into the future.

In addition to the presenting and producing institution Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the 14-acre campus also embraces the facilities of two independent acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region's major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Photo Credit: Greg Allen

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