Brook Benton Biography, Photos and Posters

Brook Benton

Biography

Born: September 19, 1931
City and Country of Origin: Camden, SC
Music Training:
Awards:
Top Recordings: "Endlessly," "It's Just a Matter of Time," "So Many Ways," "Thank You Pretty Baby," "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)," "Kiddio," "A Rockin' Good Way," "Think Twice," "The Boll Weevil Song," "Lie to Me," "Hotel Happiness," "Rainy Night in Georgia"
Brook Benton Biography: Brook Benton was a successful American male vocalist. Benjamin Franklin Peay was born September 19, 1931 in Camden, SC. As a youth he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs. In 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career. He drifted in and out of gospel groups such as "The Langfordaires," "The Jerusalem Stars," and "The Golden Gate Quartet." He returned to his home state where he joined an R&B singing group, "the Sandmen," then went back to New York to test the waters with his new singing group.

In the meantime he earned a good living writing songs and co-producing albums. He wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit, "A Million Miles From Nowhere." Later he went on to the Mercury label, which would eventually bring him larger success.

Finally in 1959 he made his big breakthrough with his hits "It's Just a Matter of Time" and "Endlessly." "It's Just a Matter of Time" peaked at number 3 on the U.S. pop charts, while "Endlessly" made it to number 12 on the charts. Both of the first two hits were written by Benton with Clyde Otis. They were originally offered to Nat "King" Cole, but when Otis became an A&R offical at Mercury, he convinced Benton to sign with the label and record them himself, while asking Cole not to record the songs as planned. He had many number 1 hits such as "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Hotel Happiness." In 1960, he had two top 10 hit duets with Dinah Washington: "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" and "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall In Love)." Benton eventually recorded a total of 38 singles. The last album made by Brook Benton was Fools Rush In, which was released in 2005.

On April 9, 1988, Brook died of complications from spinal meningitis in New York City.
Died: April 9, 1988

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