Al Benson

For the American basketball player, see Al Benson (basketball).
Al Benson
Born
Arthur Bernard Leaner

(1908-06-30)June 30, 1908
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
DiedSeptember 6, 1978(1978-09-06) (aged 70)
Berrien Springs, Michigan, US
Occupation(s)Radio DJ, music promoter, preacher, businessman, civil rights activist

Arthur Bernard Leaner (June 30, 1908 – September 6, 1978), who was known professionally as Al Benson, was an American radio DJ, music promoter and record label owner in Chicago between the 1940s and 1960s. He was particularly significant for his promotion of rhythm and blues music and black involvement in the recording industry in Chicago.[1]

Leaner was also an ordained minister and activist, and became an important figure in the civil rights movement in Chicago. In 2017 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ Legendaries of Radio: Al Benson Archived 2018-06-25 at the Wayback Machine. Legendariesofradio.wix.com, Retrieved 18 May 2014