David Benoit's 50-Cent Gig |
| Sep 07 2010 |
In over 50 years of playing. David Benoit has racked up Grammy nominations, composed film scores and performed for presidents. But it was his first “professional” job that still sticks out in his memory. In this month’s cover story for Smooth Jazz News, he recounts, “The first time I remember getting payment for playing the piano I was about 14. I hadn’t been playing that long. Anyway, my parents took a vacation…and we stopped at this little place in Susanville [CA]. They knew the owner, who had an upright piano in the salon. I started playing it… and someone tipped me 50 cents––and that was the first time I remember being paid to play the piano. A whopping 50 cents.”
Since that time, Benoit has recorded over 30 albums, including his most recent, Earthglow, which yielded the hit, “Will’s Chill.” He’s scheduled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at next month’s American Smooth Jazz Awards.
Last changed: Sep 07 2010 at 6:38 AM
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