Brook Benton
Brook Benton (born Benjamin Franklin Peay, born September 19, 1931 in Camden, South Carolina, USA, † April 9, 1988 in New York City ) was a versatile African-American pop and rhythm -and- blues singer and composer.
Life
Benton attended until 1947, the Jackson High School in Lugoff, South Carolina. During this time, he sang in the first Efuces Methodist Church Choir and later joined the gospel choir at Camden Jubilee Singers. In 1948, he moved to New York to work as a truck driver. He was a member of the Jerusalem Stars, one led by the later Drifters member Bill Pinkney gospel choir. In 1955 he founded the rhythm-and - blues group, The Sandmen, with whom he recorded two records with the record company Okeh Records, produced by the then 22 -year-old Quincy Jones. In 1956 he brought, now by his stage name Brook Benton, at Okeh his first solo single with the tracks Bring Me Love / Some Of My Best Friends out. In the same year he worked with Little Richard and Chuck Berry in the film Mr. Music Rock'n roll with. It was followed by two singles on Epic Records and in the years 1957 and 1958 four publications by the record company Vik Records. In Vik he had in 1958 with the title A Million Miles From Nowhere its entry into the Billboard Hot 100 with the highest quotation on place 82
At the same time, Benton was a member of the songwriting team of Clyde Otis and wrote his title Looking Back Nat King Cole ( Billboard No. 6) and A Lover 's Question Clyde McPhatter for. In addition he made numerous demo versions for a side income. After a short stint at the record company RCA Victor with a plate recording Benton joined the end of 1958 from a long-term contract with Mercury Records. His first Mercury single was a great success, with the written by Otis 's team title It's Just a Matter of Time, he brought it up to 3rd place on the Hot 100 and at # 1 in the rhythm-and - blues charts. The single has sold over one million copies. With the title Endlessly, a co-production of Otis and Benton, Benton pulled first time in 1959 in the British hit lists one in New Musical Express, he came up to the place 28 in 1960 released two singles with the successful country singer Dinah Washington, which is excellent in the hot 100 placed. The title baby landed on the 5th rank and A Rockin ' Good Way reached # 7 The U.S. rhythm-and - blues charts (R & B) captured both titles the top position. Another million success landed Benton with the published 1961 Title The Boll Weevil Song. In his version of an old folk song he came in the Hot 100 at No. 2, the best quotation of his career, R & B also listed him in 2nd place. In the UK, The Boll Weevil Song space 28 occupied became known through his chart entries in the UK, he was there in 1963 several public appearances, for example, in the Beatles TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium and the Greatest Record Show of in 1963. A year later he entered for $ 25,000 a week on the New York Apollo Theatre. He also had numerous appearances in American television series.
Until 1965, Benton was a regular place with 44 titles on the Hot 100. His most recent Hot 100 success was the title of Mother Nature, Father Time, once a co-production of Benton Otis, which reached number 58. The single was already published by RCA Victor after Benton's contract had expired with Mercury after seven years. Meanwhile, the so-called British Invasion pop groups had reached with their North American and Benton drives like the other U.S. stars are no longer sold. After einstellten no further success with RCA, Benton moved in rapid succession, the record companies (Reprise, Cotillion, MGM and others). When he had Cotillion 1970 Rainy Night in Georgia once again a successful title, the 4th place achieved in the R & B singles chart in the Hot 100 and # 1 again and finally became a Millionenhit.
With his laid back style and an extensive repertoire Brook Benton became one of the most successful balladeers in the United States. He died in 1988 at the age of 56 years, weakened by pneumonia, to meningitis in New York Mary Immaculate Hospital.