Photo Credit: George Benson by Robbie Drexhage / CC by 4.0
Harbourview acquires the master royalty income of jazz legend George Benson.
Harbourview Equity Partners has announced the acquisition of the master royalty income of renowned jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter George Benson. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We maintain a commitment to be a canon for legendary culture movers such as George Benson. His artistry is distinct in its sound, with acoustics that forever stir emotions of a musical era that means so much to so many of us,” said Harbourview Equity Partners founder and CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares. “We are proud to stand in partnership and welcome him to the Harbourview family.”
George Benson topped the jazz, pop, and R&B charts with his 1976 album, Breezin’, a three-time Grammy-winning release that has since been certified triple platinum and remains one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.
He has an extensive catalog of 36 studio albums and eight live albums, including his 1980 hit “Give Me the Night,” which was produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. That track was remixed by Steve Aoki in 2021, introducing the song to a new generation. Benson has also collaborated with contemporary artists such as Gorillaz, co-writing and performing on the track “Humility,” which has accrued over 100 million views on YouTube.
Benson was awarded the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2009, and has also been presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as receiving honorary doctorate degrees from Morris Brown College, the Berklee School of Music, and Duquesne University. He was inducted into jazz publication DownBeat Magazine’s Hall of Fame in 2020, and into the New Jersey Hall of Fame by Quincy Jones in 2021.
Earlier this year, Benson announced his return to Warner Music Group, releasing his “long-lost” album, Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon, an 11-track orchestral project of American standards and pop classics. The album was originally recorded 35 years ago with Farnon, with the guidance of engineer Al Schmitt.
Fox Rothschild served as legal counsel to Harbourview in the transaction, while Benson was represented by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.