Benack was born to Italian immigrant parents in 1921 and grew up in Clairton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
Uninterested in following in the photography business, young Benny began playing trumpet at age five, and practiced for six or seven hours a day throughout his childhood.
During the late 1950s and '60s, he was an innovative bandleader at Clairton High School, introducing jazz, swing, and high-stepping routines to the marching band's pregame and halftime performances.
Peek continues the family musical tradition as Benny Benack Jr., playing trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone.
Peek's son, Benny Benack III, is following in his grandfather's footsteps as a jazz trumpeter and vocalist, touring the world as an international soloist with such artists as Postmodern Jukebox, Aaron Johnson,[2] Christian McBride, Josh Groban, Isaac Mizrahi, Joey DeFrancesco, and many others.