Tony Bennett, whose passing was announced on Friday, left an indelible mark on Los Angeles in 2015. In a memorable performance at the Hollywood Bowl with Lady Gaga, they captivated an audience of all ages with their rendition of classic standards.
Bennett, a legendary musician who released over 70 albums throughout his illustrious career, passed away in his hometown of New York at the age of 96. While the specific cause of death was not disclosed, Bennett had publicly shared his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 2021.
Although he will always be remembered for his iconic song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” Bennett was more than just a saloon singer. He was a global citizen, beloved by countless fans worldwide for his interpretations of the Great American Songbook. His talent earned him the admiration of peers like Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, and Amy Winehouse.
In addition to his music, Bennett was also a prolific painter, using his given name Anthony Benedetto as his signature. He chronicled his life in his autobiography “The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett” published in 1998 and was the subject of the documentary “The Zen of Bennett” in 2012.
Bennett received numerous honors for his contributions to the arts, including being named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005 and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006.
Born as Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, in Queens, New York, Bennett came from humble beginnings. With his immigrant father passing away when he was 10 years old, his mother worked as a seamstress to support Bennett and his two siblings.
Bennett attended the High School of Industrial Arts in New York City but dropped out to help his family financially. He worked as a singing waiter before serving in the Army infantry during World War II. Bennett saw combat in France and Germany and reached the rank of corporal due to his experience in close combat.
Using the G.I. Bill, Bennett pursued singing lessons at the American Theatre Wing, where his vocal coach imparted valuable advice: “Don’t imitate other singers; emulate instrumentalists instead.”
Under the name Joe Bari, Bennett was discovered by Pearl Bailey in 1949, who invited him to open for her show in Greenwich Village. He caught the attention of Bob Hope, a resident of Toluca Lake, who suggested the name change to Tony Bennett and gave him a spot in his popular road show. As Bennett told Billboard in 1997, he has been on the road ever since.
In 1950, Bennett signed with Columbia Records, the label he remained loyal to for most of his career. He achieved early pop hits with songs like “Because of You” and “Cold, Cold Heart.” By the late 1950s, Bennett’s album “Basie Swings, Bennett Sings” foreshadowed his future jazz-based work.
However, it was his 1962 release of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” that propelled Bennett to national fame. The song earned him his first Grammy Awards for Best Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance. Throughout his career, Bennett won a total of 20 Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as two Emmys.
Bennett parted ways with Columbia in the 1970s when the label attempted to push him in a more contemporary direction. With his eldest son Danny managing his career, Bennett made a triumphant comeback in 1986 with his album “The Art of Excellence,” his first studio album in nearly a decade.
This marked the beginning of a remarkable resurgence in popularity for Bennett. He appeared on talk shows hosted by David Letterman and Jay Leno, guest-starred on “The Simpsons,” and delivered a critically acclaimed performance on “MTV Unplugged,” which resulted in two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.
In the late 1990s, Bennett found himself embraced by a new, younger audience thanks to the swing revival sparked by the cult film “Swingers.” He appeared on the film’s soundtrack alongside Dean Martin and Bobby Darin.
Bennett continued his career with a series of tribute albums, paying homage to his childhood idols such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Billie Holiday.
In 2002, Bennett collaborated with k.d. Lang on “A Wonderful World,” earning him another Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. This marked the beginning of numerous successful duet recordings, capitalizing on the trend of collaborations at the time.
For his 80th birthday in 2006, Bennett released “Duets: An American Classic,” which topped the charts. The album featured collaborations with stars like Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Michael Bublé. A sequel, “Duets II,” included performances by Aretha Franklin, Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, and Lady Gaga, with the latter’s rendition of “Body and Soul” becoming Winehouse’s final recording.
In March of the same year, Bennett received another Grammy for his duet with Winehouse, as well as for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. “Duets II” reached the top of the Billboard 200, making Bennett the oldest artist to achieve a No. 1 album at the age of 85. The documentary film “The Zen of Bennett” provided a behind-the-scenes look into the making of “Duets II.”
In February 2021, Bennett announced his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, having been diagnosed five years prior. Later that year, he released his final album, “Love For Sale,” and performed his last concert, “One Last Time,” alongside Lady Gaga. The concert series at Radio City Music Hall in New York City coincided with Bennett’s 95th birthday.
He leaves behind his wife Susan, daughters Johanna and Antonia, sons Danny and Dae, and nine grandchildren.
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