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7 Reasons Why Mr. Brook Benton is An Inspiration 9/6/2018 5:09:49 PM
Benjamin Franklin Peay started singing with his family in the Methodist Church Choir at a young age. His remarkable talent in singing and having a distinctly silky baritone voice propelled him to strive for definition not only as a singer but also as a songwriter. His goal-driven life shaped him into what he is known today, a music legend. He catapulted himself to super-stardom from singer to songwriter, composer, entertainer, and performer. He experienced failure and success, and in each challenge, he persevered until he reached the top. This man, known by his popular name “Brook Benton”, was an inspiration of faith, courage, and perseverance to his family.
Brook Benton, a songwriter, co-writer, and singer, was acclaimed in America in the 1950s and 1960s as one Black crooner who distinctly owned an extraordinary voice and exceptional style. He was very good in his craft from gospel music to pop, rock and roll, blues, country, R&B, standards, Broadway classic and western. Benton was an inspiration to the American people, whom he had touched with his songs. He was given the highest civilian award by the Governor of South Carolina for giving honor to the state.
Benton’s popularity was not only in singing but also in songwriting. He co-wrote with partners and made compositions for artists like Nat King Cole, Roy Hamilton, and Clyde McPhatter. He worked splendidly with Dinah Washington, a popular singer herself, and their duet made it to the R&B charts. To his fellow artists, Benton was an inspiration for his delivery and expression of the songs.
Benton’s songs were stand-outs for producers like Mercury, Cotillion, Reprise, MGM, RCA, Atlantic, and others. 49 singles were on the Billboard Hot 100 and others on other music charts. Benton’s breakthrough song “It’s Just a Matter of Time”, which he co-wrote with Clyde Otis, songwriter and producer, and Belford Hendricks landed on the #3 slot in the US Billboard Charts with the song “Endlessly” on the flip-side, occupying the #12 spot. The #3 hit sold over a million copies. His last song “A Rainy Night in Georgia” made a million sales and topped the R&B Billboard Chart. His last album “Fools Rush In” was released in 2005, 17 years after his death. To his co-writers and producers, Benton is an inspiration as he made songs meaningful and put across a message that his listeners can relate and even cry too.
As entertainer and performer, Brook Benton was just incomparable. Most reviews tagged Brook Benton as a legend and a great performer of his time. Even his impersonation of personalities was incredibly delightful. Truly, Benton was an icon of inspiration to young and old enthusiasts.
Brook Benton to his fans was an inspiration for a goal-driven life. From his songs, the fans loved him, his voice, his message, his life, and how he, in a way, influenced their own dreams and careers.
To his faith contemporaries, his Gospel Truth album is a treasure and inspiration to fellow believers who find deep meaning in faith.
