George Benson (1943) started singing with local r&b bands and went on to study guitar next and discovered jazz at the age of 17. First he worked with the combo of organ player Jack McDuff and he started his own band with organ player Lonnie Smith in 1965. From then on he worked with lots of jazz celebrities including piano player Herbie Hancock. Recordings from 1964, 1965 and 1968.
Sources:
The New Boss Guitar of George Benson
(Prestige OJCCD 461-2)
It’s Uptown with the George Benson Quartet
(Columbia 502469 21)