Terry Benson Williams
While I was mostly known for my 20-years as a recording artist/performer, I was also the director and owner of one of the most successful recording studios in the world, Lion Share. The 1980's were dominated with records from Lion Share like "She Works Hard For The Money" (Donna Summer), "Hard Habit To Break" (Chicago), "Somewhere" (Barbara Streisand), "We Are The World"." to name a few. I also sang and arranged background vocals for Lionel Ritchie, Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Richard Marx, Julio Iglesias...the list goes on. I owe it all to Cleveland High School. You know as a senior, I would do sessions at night playing guitar. One session was for a group called Cesar and Cleo. It was a song called "Baby Don't Go". They changed their name to Sonny and Cher later.
Terry first performed for the Grover Cleveland High School student body as a member of "The Music Men", the band composed of GCHS students (from left) Terry Benson, Rick Bensemon, Dick Olson, Dave Levin and Warren Sproul.
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Terry (second from left) later became a founding member of the band, "The First Edition", which also featured a guy named Kenny Rogers (far right)
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An early promotional photo of Terry as a member of The First Edition
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Singing and playing guitar
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Before The First Edition, Terry was featured in the hit group, "The New Christy Minstrels"
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A 2013 photo of Terry and his wife Debra
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Terry lives in beautiful, rural Bethpage, Tennessee
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Comments
Hi Terry, I am so very proud of you, not only of all the wonderful Music that you made & produced but proud that you so wonderfully remember all of our early roots & early training! We were friends in high school & I have so many great memories of you, John Daly & yes, my dear friend Nora! I can't wait to see you, meet your wife & listen to a few good memories!
Gloria Dorcy
Gloria Dorcy
Terry: A truly wonderful history and career. I have so many wonderful memories, most of all the friendship and love shared . Remember our late night rehearsals in my mom and dad's dining room recording the sessions on that "reel to reel" tape recorder .
Dave Levin
Dave Levin
Response to Dave from Terry
I remember it all. pal. You're right, all the wonderful things we shared as a group like performing for the Russian Woman's Olympic gymnasts? Remember? Those woman scared me to death. The Pepsi Cola Hootenanny and who could top having Sky King for a manager. Long lived The Music Men Ala Volkswagen. The best of all was as you said...the friendship and the fun.
I remember it all. pal. You're right, all the wonderful things we shared as a group like performing for the Russian Woman's Olympic gymnasts? Remember? Those woman scared me to death. The Pepsi Cola Hootenanny and who could top having Sky King for a manager. Long lived The Music Men Ala Volkswagen. The best of all was as you said...the friendship and the fun.