George Benson delivers “A Song For You”

Grammy® award-winning jazz guitarist and singer George Benson will release a long-missed orchestral album this summer, his first since returning to Warner Music Group earlier this year. Dreams come true: When George Benson meets Robert Farnon will be released on July 19th by Rhino on CD and LP as well as digitally and on streaming platforms. Pre-order possible HERE.

In 1989, Benson collaborated with acclaimed composer and arranger Robert Farnon and his orchestra to create Dreams Do Come True. Farnon’s lush arrangements perfectly complement Benson’s soulful vocals and fluid guitar work on American standards such as “Autumn Leaves,” “At Last” and “My Romance.” The captivating collection also includes reinterpreted pop classics such as the Beatles’ “Yesterday” and Leon Russell’s “A Song For You.” In 1976, Benson’s version of Russell’s “This Masquerade” became his first major hit, winning the Grammy® Award for Record of the Year.

Benson recorded Dreams Do Come True during a productive period and decided to delay the album’s release. In the meantime, the recordings were lost and remained missing until recently rediscovered in Benson’s archives. Now, after 35 years, the album will finally receive its proper release.

George Benson explained: “After finding this long-lost musical treasure, I asked my brilliant friend Randy Waldman to help bring it back to life. Mission accomplished.”

The original recording sessions for Dreams Do Come True were impeccably captured by Grammy® Award-winning engineer Al Schmidt, who manned the recording desk for some of Benson’s most successful albums. All 11 tracks have been remastered for the upcoming release. Benson worked with Grammy® Award-winning pianist, composer and arranger Randy Waldman as co-producer, adding overdubs and expressive choral arrangements to the re-recorded record.

This album marks the latest chapter in Benson’s illustrious career as a giant of jazz and contemporary music. During his time at Warner Records from 1976 to 1993, Benson released 12 studio albums, including Breezin’. This groundbreaking record not only topped the pop, R&B and jazz charts, but also earned Benson three of his 10 Grammy® Awards. Breezin’ went triple platinum and remains one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. In 2009, Benson was honored by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) as a Jazz Master, the nation’s highest honor for jazz artists.

A consummate artist and a must-see live performer, Benson will be performing at the Hollywood Bowl on August 18th.

Dreams come true: When George Benson meets Robert Farnon

LP tracklist

page A

1. “Finally”

2. “A song for you”

3. “Pretend you’re happy”

4. “A long time ago”

5. “Love is blue”

Page B

6. “My Romance”

7. “Autumn Leaves”

8. “Can’t we be friends?”

9. “My Prayer”

10. “Yesterday”

11. “A Farewell”

CD tracklist

1. “Finally”

2. “A song for you”

3. “Act as if you were happy”

4. “A long time ago”

5. “Love is blue”

6. “My Romance”

7. “Autumn Leaves”

8. “Can’t we be friends?”

9. “My Prayer”

10. “Yesterday”

11. “A Farewell”