Jane Benson

A singer from Murfreesboro with releases in 1959 and 1960.

History[edit | edit source]

The public history of Jane Benson starts in 1959 with several entries in the Nashville Banner, related to label and studio owner Kenny Marlow, who wore many hats. The first, an October 6, 1959 write-up, remarks that "Talent agent Kenny Marlow (who also doubles as an attorney at Blackstone)is currently hep on Murfreesboro's Jane Benson, whose 'Growing Up,' on the Atc[o] label, has the sound of best seller." A follow-up entry a few weeks later, informs that "Music Publisher Kenny Marlow figures he has a hit on his hands via Jane Benson's 'Growing Up' on the Atco label. She's a pretty-pretty from Murfreesboro, Tenn." The A-side of that release "Growing Up" written by songsmith brothers Ron and Jimmy Isle, who worked for Marlow at the time, features a flip side "Surrendering," written by Ron Isle, the elder brother.

Aside from the local press, Marlow, in concert with Atco, also pushed the release into the national trade publications. A mention in CashBox that Dec of 1959 includes a promo pic and acknowledgement from local Nashville DJ and promoter Noel Ball. Also plugged we find references to another Nashville rock release from that time by Eddie Crandall, Marty Robbins' manager (who also had a release on Ball's Scarlet Records), as well as a mention of a new Ray & Lindy release which received joint promotion with Jane Benson's 45. The rep from Atco probably secured these masters at the same time in a trip to Nashville, as they share adjacent catalog numbers. This initial single landed Benson on the Dick Clark suggestion list, "Dick's Pick," for singles in November of 1959.

After the release that Marlow licensed to Atco, Benson has two follow-up 45s, both in 1960, and both on Marlow's own Image Records. These release also feature prominently in the creation of the record label by Marlow, perhaps enthused by the ability to take local artists and license them nationally. The announcement for the new label specifically referenced his Fidelity Studios downtown, as well as Ron Isle, Jane Benson and Ray & Lindy. His new national distributor would be NRC out of Atlanta, associated with Bill Lowery.

In May 1960, "It Was You / I Hear Love Calling," features a track written again by the elder Isle brother, with the B-side written by songsmith extraordinaire Bobby Russell, who was working with Marlow in the late 50s and early 60s, while a student at Belmont. The next and final release by Jane Benson came out in December of 1960 and just as the others received favorable reviews; however, these represent the end of her recording career.

No performances seem to appear in local papers from the day, indicating this may have only been a studio exercise. While initially her recording career seems to have no backstory, her long time husband was associated with local Gospel publishers and recording family business, Benson Printing and Publishing, possibly providing clues to a musical connection within a much tighter-knit Nashville music business landscape in the late '50s. Her next mention in the papers reference the move for the Benson family out to Percy Priest Lake in 1965.

Jane Benson passed away in 2023 at the age of 95, just a few years after her husband John Benson III.