Multitalented and internationally famous jazz legend, - a composer, arranger, lyricist, producer - and tenor saxophonist of world note, Benny Golson was born in Philadelphia, PA on January 25, 1929.
Raised with an impeccable musical pedigree, Golson has played in the bands of world famous Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Earl Bostic and Art Blakey. Few jazz musicians can claim to be true innovators and even fewer can boast of a performing and recording career that literally redefines the term "jazz". Benny Golson has made major contributions to the world of jazz with such jazz standards as:Killer Joe, I Remember Clifford, Along Came Betty, Stablemates, Whisper Not, Blues March, Five Spot After Dark, Are you Real?
Benny Golson is the only living jazz artist to have written 8 standards for jazz repertoire.These jazz standards have found their way into countless recordings internationally over the years and are still being recorded. He has recorded over 30 albums for many recording companies in the United States and Europe under his own name and innumerable ones with other major artists. A prodigious writer, Golson has written well over 300 compositions. For more than 60 years, Golson has enjoyed an illustrious, musical career in which he has not only made scores of recordings but has also composed and arranged music for: Count Basie, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., Mama Cass Elliott, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Shirley Horn, David Jones and the Monkees, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Anita O'Day, Itzhak Perlman, Oscar Peterson, Lou Rawls, Mickey Rooney, Diana Ross, The Animals (Eric Burden), Mel Torme, George Shearing, Dusty Springfield His prolific writing includes scores for hit TV series and films: M*A*S*H, Mannix, Mission Impossible, Mod Squad, Room 222, Run for Your Life, The Partridge Family, The Academy Awards, The Karen Valentine Show, Television specials for ABC, CBS and NBC. Television specials for BBC in London and Copenhagen, Denmark. Theme for Bill Cosby's last TV show, A french film 'Des Femmes Disparaissent" (Paris) He has written music for national radio and television spots for some of the major advertising agencies in the country. Some of these commercials were for: Borateem, Canada Dry, Carnation, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Clorox, Dodge, General Telephone, Gillette, Heinz Foods, Jack in The Box, Liquid Plum'r, MacDonald's, Mattel Toys, Monsanto, Nissan, Ohrbachs, Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes, Parliament Cigarettes, Pepsi Cola, Texaco Benny Golson has absolute mastery of the jazz medium. He has not only blazed a trail in the world of jazz but is passionate about teaching jazz to young and old alike. He has lectured at the Lincoln Center through a special series by Wynton Marsalis. He has lectured to doctoral candidates at New York University and to the faculty at National University at San Diego. Honored with doctorates from William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ and Berklee School of Music, Boston, MA, Dr. Golson has also conducted workshops and clinics at:
Appalachian University, Boone, NC
Berklee School fo Music, Boston, MA
Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
Howard University, Washington, DC
Julliard School of Music, New York, NY
Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY
New England Conservatory
Paris Conservatory, Paris, France
Rutgers University, New Orleans, LA
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
University of Denver, Denver, CO
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Appleton, WI
William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ
> Selmer Saxophones
Benny talks about why he likes and plays Selmer saxophones.
> Coltrane and I
Benny talks about John Coltrane and himself in the early days of their careers.
> Recent Career Highlights
Chronological listings of Benny's recent musical career.
> Jazz Paintings
Michael Reilly painted Benny during a performance at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
> Klose & Klose
I have had a wonderful relationship with my accountant
and Business Manager, Dipl. Kfm. Gisela Klose of Klose & Klose for
the past 20 years. This company really knows the music business. They
know how to track licensing, mechanical, publishing and print rights worldwide.
> Benny's Fans