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Gary Benson
Gary Benson is one of the elite and most acclaimed of British Songwriters. For over 25 years he has enjoyed International success. with music ranging from Pop/Country/Dance/Reggae, attaining many BMI and ASCAP awards plus gold and platinum records.
His classic Maxi Priest's song "Close To You" went to No.1 in the U.S. as well as many other territories around the world. The Album Bonafide which featured this track and another Benson song "You" sold over 2 million copies world-wide (several ASCAP and B.M.I. awards followed).
Since that time Gary Benson has been an integral part of Maxi Priest's success which has established him as the no. 1 Reggae Artist in the world. This included the International hit "That Girl" for Maxi and Shaggy.
Benson's initial success came from the song "Don't throw It All away"; a song which he himself had a Top 1 0 success with in the U.K. The song also attained a Nashville Country award when it was recorded by Dave and Sugar (R.C.A) going Top 5 in the Country charts. It was also featured as a stand out track on Olivia Newton John's Platinum selling album "Come On Over".
Other versions of the song include a Top 10 R & B single for Stacey Lattisaw and also for the Delphon:cs and a No.1 Reggae single for Jamaican Superstar Barrington Levy. Benson also achieved a further Top (U.S.) 10 single with Stacey Lattisaw with the classic ballad "Miracles".
Gary Benson wrote the first John Travolta song "Let Her In" which went to Top 5 in the U.S. He also wrote the follow up "Whenever I'm Away From You" (Top 10) as well as the Travolta track "Can't Let You Go" featured on the Gold Album "Sandy".
Benson is especially acclaimed in the Reggae field where he has enjoyed international success with the world's top Reggae Artists;- Barrington Levy with the Classic "Living Dangerously" "Work", "Don't throw It All Away" Bounty Killer the renowned Jamaican Rap Artist also featured "Living Dangerously" on his Gold Album. Also Aswad with the NO.1. single in Japan "Heartbeat" plus their Platinum Album where he wrote five tracks. Another Aswad hit includes the renowned "Warriors".
Big Mountain enjoyed Top 5 in Japan and NO.1 in South America with Benson's "Caribbean Blue", which also featured on their Gold "Greatest Hits Album".
Other Reggae acts he has written for include Shaggy, Morgan Heritage, Freddie McGregor, Sly and Robbie, Dennis Brown Chuka Demus and Plyers, Louchie and Mitchie etc.
Other Benson hits include the U.S. Top 20 single
"Shadow In The Streef' for "Hollies" front man Allan Clarke, the acclaimed song "Vienna" from Broadway Musical star Linda Eder, which was U.S. A & C Top 10, Beverley Brown's Top 10 U. K. dance hit "On And On".
Benson songs have also featured in major movies;- "Sleeping With The Enemy", Speed II and "Basketball" and T.V. Shows such as Baywatch, Ofrah Wimfrey Show, Rosie O'Donnell etc. etc ..
His co-writers include; Albert Hammonds, Frank Wild horne, Graham Lisle, Winston Sela, Wayne Hector, Alan Glass. He has also been nominated for Ivor Novello Awards.
Current projects include new albums for, 2Play, Barrington Levy, new Jamaican Girl Band M.B.C. and Maxi Priest etc. Benson is also writing and producing exciting new acts Jah Miracle, and
Moni. The story goes on.
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Close To You
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Maxi Priest
Bonafide
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That Girl
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Maxi Priest
Man With the Fun
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