Title
Honoring, recognizing, and celebrating the lifetime musical achievements of Benny Golson, for his contributions to the world of music through radio, television, and film.
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WHEREAS, Benny Golson is a multitalented and internationally recognized jazz legend, undertaking the roles of composer, arranger, lyricist, producer as well as a tenor saxophonist of world note; and
WHEREAS, Being born as raised in North Philadelphia, Mr. Golson attended Benjamin Franklin High School, and played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Rodney; and
WHEREAS, 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". Mr. 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?; and
WHEREAS, From 1959 to 1962, Golson co-led the Jazztet with Art Farmer. Golson then left jazz to concentrate on studio and orchestral work for 12 years. During this time he composed music for such television shows as Ironside, Room 222, M*A*S*H, and Mission: Impossible; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Golson has written music for national radio and television spots for some of the major advertising agencies in the country for commercial advertisements for companies such as Canada Dry, Carnation, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Clorox, Dodge, Gillette, Heinz Foods, Jack in The Box, McDonald's, Mattel Toys, Nissan, Pepsi Cola, and Texaco; and
WHEREAS, The Howard University Jazz Studies Program created a prestigious award in his honor called the "Benny Golson Jazz Master Award" in 1996. In 1995 Golson received the NEA Jazz Masters Award of the National Endowment for the Arts. In October 2007, Golson received the Mellon Living Legend Legacy Award presented by t...
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