Frankie_Violet

<p><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">"</strong><strong>This Masquerade" is a song written by American singer and musician&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Russell" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Leon Russell</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">. It was originally recorded in 1972 by Russell for his album&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carney_(Leon_Russell_album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"><strong><em>Carney</em></strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">&nbsp;and as a&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-side_and_B-side" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>B-side</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">&nbsp;for the album's hit single "</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tight_Rope_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Tight Rope</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">". The song was then covered on&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Reddy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Helen Reddy</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">'s 1972 album,&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Woman_(album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"><strong><em>I Am Woman</em></strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">. It was then recorded by American vocal duo,&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carpenters" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>the Carpenters</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">, for their 1973 album&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_%26_Then_(The_Carpenters_album)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"><strong><em>Now &amp; Then</em></strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">&nbsp;and as the&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-side_and_B-side" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>B-side</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">&nbsp;of the Carpenters's single "</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Please_Mr._Postman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Please Mr. Postman</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">". Three years later, "This Masquerade" was recorded by American singer and guitarist&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Benson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>George Benson</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">, who released it on his 1976 album,&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breezin%27" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"><strong><em>Breezin'</em></strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">. Benson's version, featuring&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Dalto" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Jorge Dalto</strong></a><strong style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">&nbsp;on piano, was released as a single and became the first big hit of his career.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: black;">“This Masquerade” is another intricate tapestry of words, melody, harmony and rhythm that has been recorded by artists of every genre. The Carpenters were not the only ones to score with this song. George Benson won Record of the Year at the 1976 Grammys with his version. Artists as varied as Vic Damone, Robert Goulet, David Sanborn, Doc Severnsen — and even Cybill Shepherd — have recorded their own renditions.</strong></p>