Benson's next recording was It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax. This album showcases Benson's talent in constructing swinging bebop lines at blistering tempos. Benson followed it up with "The George Benson Cookbook," also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber.
One of his major hits is the song "This Masquerade", which is included in the top-selling album Breezin' . This album represents a shift to more commercially oriented music which brought Benson a wider audience but alienated some jazz fans. Other singles that have made the Billboard Hot 100 charts include "On Broadway" (1978), "Love Ballad" (1979), "Give Me The Night" (1980) and "Turn Your Love Around" (1982).
Benson continues to play outstanding jazz guitar, as evidenced on recordings such as Jimmy Smith's Off the Top, Benson's own live album Par Excellence, and Tenderly, on which Benson is accompanied by McCoy Tyner on piano.
For his contribution to the recording industry, George Benson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7055 Hollywood Blvd.
SUNNY
George Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
Oh, the dark days are done and the bright days are here
My sunny one shines so sincere
Oh, Sunny one so true, I love you
Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet
You gave to me your all and all
Now I feel ten feet tall
Oh, Sunny one so true, I love you
Sunny, thank you for the truth you've let me see
Sunny, thank you for the facts from A to Z
My life was torn like wind-blown sand
Then a rock was formed when we held hands
Sunny one so true, I love you
Sunny, thank you for that smile upon your face
Sunny, thank you for that gleam that flows with grace
You're my spark of nature's fire
You're my sweet complete desire
Sunny one so true, I love you
The song "Sunny" by George Benson is an ode to the power of love and a sunny disposition to brighten up one's life. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with Benson lamenting about how his life was filled with darkness and rain until he met someone who changed his life. "Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain," he sings, acknowledging the transformative power of a single smile.
The second verse picks up the tempo and celebrates the arrival of brighter days. Benson sings about how his "sunny one" has made him feel ten feet tall and how he loves them for being so true. The third verse is a thank you note to the one he loves, thanking them for bringing truth and facts into his life. He acknowledges that his life was once chaotic and uncertain but that love has grounded him and provided a foundation to stand on. In the final verse, Benson sings about how his lover is the "spark of nature's fire" and his "sweet complete desire." He's grateful for their presence in his life, and he's happy to let them know how much he loves them.
Overall, "Sunny" is a song about the transformative power of love, the importance of gratitude, and the power of positive energy to lift us out of dark places.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Before you came into my life, everything was terrible and gloomy
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
As soon as you came into my life, your smile made everything better and you comforted me in a way that no one else could
Oh, the dark days are done and the bright days are here
All the terrible days are behind me now and I'm filled with hope for the future
My sunny one shines so sincere
You are the one who brightens up my life and makes everything feel more genuine and real
Oh, Sunny one so true, I love you
You are the only one who has ever been so faithful and true to me, and I love you for it
Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet
You have brought me so much joy and happiness that it's like receiving a beautiful bouquet of sunshine every day
Sunny, thank you for the love you've brought my way
You have given me so much love and you have made me feel so special that I will be forever grateful to you for it
You gave to me your all and all
You gave everything you had to make me happy and to show me how much you care
Now I feel ten feet tall
Thanks to your love and support, I feel like I can do anything and I'm filled with confidence
Sunny one so true, I love you
You are the only one who has ever been so faithful and true to me, and I love you for it
Sunny, thank you for the truth you've let me see
You have opened my eyes to the reality of the world and helped me see things in a more honest and truthful way
Sunny, thank you for the facts from A to Z
You have taught me everything I need to know about life, from the simplest things to the most complex topics
My life was torn like wind-blown sand
My life was in chaos and I wasn't sure what to do or where to turn
Then a rock was formed when we held hands
But when we came together and held hands, everything suddenly became stable and secure
Sunny one so true, I love you
You are the only one who has ever been so faithful and true to me, and I love you for it
Sunny, thank you for that smile upon your face
Your smile is like a ray of sunshine that brightens up my day and makes me feel loved
Sunny, thank you for that gleam that flows with grace
Your grace and beauty are unmatched and they make me feel so lucky to have you in my life
You're my spark of nature's fire
You are the one who ignites my passion and makes me feel alive like nothing else can
You're my sweet complete desire
You are everything I have ever wanted and you complete me in a way that no one else can
Sunny one so true, I love you
You are the only one who has ever been so faithful and true to me, and I love you for it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bobby Hebb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Seton
Probably the best example of when a legendary guitarists piece, recorded perfectly, was over produced andvalmost completely ruined. If the tapes were able to be re-edited, and the horns levels brought way down below 50%... it would be unreal... the key change is lost under the horns...
scarminati
To the Sunny lovers, here's a link to a playlist I created with 34 amazing versions of this beautiful song. Hope you like it and remember, keep a sunny disposition to life ;) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAX-0r-EiiTeTL4KlFf1DRTkdT2c-Jgo5
Halley Comet
Can't believe such a wonderful piece isn't so well known to the public.
Jaja
It is well known I guess, since it's the chords of the song that are still being used today allot.
James Dilettante
All time classic. Thanks for uploading.
Alex 967
A wonderful instrumental version of Sunny (song written by Bobby Hebb ) amde by George Benson an artist who wrote and played songs in all styles: jazz, funky, soul, pop, disco and one of the best guitarists in the world.
Udo Matthias drums
still love it!
Hayden Higginbotham
super, je l'adore
Régis FERNANDEZ
je ne connaissais pas cette version, pas mal du tout!!!!
KaderFunkyman
Merci