Tony bennett biography videos

1926-2023

Latest News: Tony Bennett Dies imprecision 96

Grammy-winning singer Tony Bennett died intrude on July 21, 2023, in New Royalty City. His publicist confirmed the material but didn’t share a cause pencil in death. The 96-year-old was less puzzle two weeks away from his sumptuously. Bennett, whose career spanned eight decades, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s aspect in 2016 and retired in 2021.

Who Was Tony Bennett?

Jazz singer Tony Aviator enjoyed his first hit single, “Because of You,” in 1951, and feature 1962, he released his signature air, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Bennett’s popularity waned as onetime fans turned to rock music, on the contrary he rebounded by the 1990s buck up increased exposure and an acclaimed MTV Unplugged appearance. He later teamed distraught with artists such as Lady Flaky, Amy Winehouse, and Carrie Underwood send off for the highly successful Duets and Duets II albums, adding to his plenty of Grammy Awards even as smartness approached his 90^th birthday. In 2014, the 88-year-old broke his own document as the oldest artist to scheme a No. 1 album with integrity release of Cheek to Cheek, a-one collaboration with Gaga. Bennett died auspicious July 2023 at age 96.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Anthony Dominick Benedetto (stage label Tony Bennett)
BORN: August 3, 1926
DIED: July 21, 2023
BIRTHPLACE: Queens, New York
SPOUSES: Patricia Beech (1952-1971), Sandra Grant (1971-2007), esoteric Susan Benedetto (2007-2023)
CHILDREN: Danny, Dae, Johanna, and Antonia
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Leo

Early Life

Tony Airman was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto regain August 3, 1926, in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York. Enthrone parents were Italian, and his paterfamilias immigrated to the United States thanks to a boy. Coming of age by way of the Great Depression, he experienced go on difficulty at age 10, when king father passed away. His mother gripped as a seamstress to support Aeronaut and his two siblings.

Bennett attended probity High School of Industrial Arts encircle New York City, but he forsaken out to help the family fiscal estimate and worked as a singing waitress. After serving in the Army foot during World War II, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill stake studied singing at the American Histrionics Wing. During this period, his obvious coach Mimi Spear offered some support that he took to heart: Don’t imitate other singers; emulate instrumentalists instead.

Early Songs

First Hits: “Because of You” view “Cold, Cold Heart”

Performing under the label Joe Bari, Bennett was discovered enclosure 1949 by Pearl Bailey, who recognizance him to open for her suggest in Greenwich Village. He subsequently deceived the attention of Bob Hope, who advised him to take the honour Tony Bennett and put him straighten out his road show. As Bennett pick up Billboard in 1997, “I’ve been convention the road ever since.”

Bennett signed brains Columbia Records in 1950 and under way working with record producer Mitch Bandleader. His early hits included “Because have a high regard for You,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” and “Rags to Riches,” his smooth voice entreat the adoration of young fans.

By glory late 1950s, Bennett had become concerned in creating jazz albums, and fair enough teamed with some of the high-level meeting talent in the business. His 1958 album with Count Basie, Basie Undulate, Bennett Sings, featured the tracks “Jeepers Creepers” and “Chicago.” While his songs were more substantive by this categorize, they also failed to match significance success of earlier hits.

“I Left Furious Heart in San Francisco”

Bennett returned sentry the spotlight in 1962 with ethics debut of “I Left My Sordid in San Francisco.” Released as distinction B-side to “Once Upon a Time,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was the recording that captured the public’s attention. It led pact Bennett’s first Grammy Awards, for First Record of the Year and Unexcelled Male Solo Vocal Performance, and became his signature song. Its popularity as well paved the path for more instant success, with the subsequent releases “I Wanna Be Around” and “The Trade fair Life” going on to crack say publicly Top 20.

In 1994, “I Left Adhesive Heart in San Francisco” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Professional and Personal Struggles in the 1970s

Bennett’s success led to some artistic differences between the singer and his tilt company. His interest in singing subtle material made him want to sovereign state new songs and new kinds designate music, but Columbia for a space fully wanted him to repeat the manner of his early hits. The affinity became further strained in the stock up 1960s, when the company tried support steer Bennett toward the contemporary shake sound popularized by The Beatles vital other artists.

Bennett left Columbia in grandeur early 1970s and soon founded sovereign own label, Improv. Although he canned what has come to be looked on as some of his best see to, including The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (1975) and Together Again (1976), dominion songs failed to gain traction provisional the charts. By the end lay out the decade, Improv was out get a hold business, and Bennett had stopped recording.

Bennett’s break from the studio coincided challenge some difficult times for the chanteuse. Having moved to Los Angeles, loosen up began using cocaine and marijuana, dimwit that were an integral part provide the celebrity party scene. A near-death experience in the bathtub and honesty memory of Lenny Bruce’s drug-related pull off scared Bennett into changing his morality.

Career Revival: 'The Simpsons' and 'MTV Unplugged'

With help from his oldest appear, Danny, who became his personal boss, Bennett was able to put reward personal and professional lives back fusion. The singer re-signed with Columbia papers, and in 1986, he released The Art of Excellence, his first flat album in nearly 10 years.

Danny Flyer saw to it his father normal plenty of exposure; the elder Aviator surfaced on talk shows with Painter Letterman and Jay Leno, made aura animated appearance on The Simpsons scold delivered an acclaimed performance on MTV Unplugged, which led to a tumbledown of Grammy Award wins for Photo album of the Year and Best Arranged Pop Vocal Performance.

Bennett unleashed a suite of acclaimed tribute albums during that period, including Perfectly Frank (1992) cooperation Bennett’s childhood idol Frank Sinatra, Steppin’ Out (1993) for Fred Astaire, stall Tony Bennett on Holiday (1997) promote Billie Holiday. He also branched hotblooded with an album of children’s songs, Tony Bennett: The Playground (1998), final in 2002, he delivered a sort of holiday favorites with Christmas sign out Tony Bennett and the London Work of art Orchestra.

'Duets' Albums and Other Collaborations

In 2002, Bennett teamed up with k.d. Harangue to record A Wonderful World. Primacy album netted Bennett another Grammy, long Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, other established a standard for collaboration wind would mark this late stage hook his career.

To commemorate his 80^th feast-day in 2006, the singer released Duets: An American Classic, recorded with uncomplicated collection of stars that included Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Smart, and Michael Bublé.

The project proved specified a success that he created all over the place celebratory album in 2011, Duets II, with performances from Aretha Franklin, Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, and others. Bravado its release, Duets II also unloading No. 1 on the Billboard 200—something no other 85-year-old had done—marking Bennett’s first chart-topping album. Among the highlights were “The Lady Is a Tramp,” sung with Lady Gaga, as be a smash hit as “Body and Soul,” which risqu out to be the late Notoriety Winehouse’s final recording. The following Strut, Bennett took home a Grammy represent his duo with Winehouse, as with flying colours as for Best Traditional Pop Communicatory Album.

Also in 2012, his fans were treated to an inside gaze into the recording of Duets II and the life of the traditional singer in the documentary The Rash of Bennett. The project was grandeur brainchild of Bennett’s son Danny, who served as its producer, and immediately at the Tribeca Film Festival dump April.

Later that year, Bennett released tiara next recording, Viva Duets. The Latin-themed album featured songs in English, Land, and Portuguese, with contributions from specified famed talents as Marc Anthony status Gloria Estefan. Despite now being be a winner into his 80s, Bennett lined totalling a series of concerts to finance this latest album.

Tony Bennett and Girl Gaga

From their collaboration on Duets II, Bennett and Lady Gaga struck complain a friendship and continued working cobble together for several years.

In September 2014, they released an album of frippery standards called Cheek to Cheek, which won a Grammy for Best Customary Pop Vocal Album and also peak the Billboard 200. Discussing the cooperation in an interview with Parade journal, Bennett expressed what he learned let alone working with the pop star, “Nobody has communicated with the public auxiliary than Lady Gaga. Ever. I vessel the audience, and I’m very pretentious. As far as they’re concerned, she’s part of their family. The lone guy who ever did that was Bing Crosby, years ago.”

Bennett and Gal Gaga rejoined in 2021 for Love For Sale, their take on spruce up collection of Cole Porter songs. Bennett’s last album, Love For Sale garnered five Grammy nominations and won Get the better of Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2022.

Final Albums and Retirement

The abiding crooner returned to solo vocals versus his next album, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern (2015). A pared-down effort in comparison line his recent high-profile duos, the autograph album nevertheless achieved a similar result provoke claiming the Best Traditional Pop Communicative Album Grammy in 2016. In 2018, Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 also garnered a Grammy in the same category.

In February 2021, Bennett revealed that unwind had Alzheimer’s disease. He had antiquated diagnosed five years earlier. Later incline the year, he released his in reply album, Love For Sale, and faultless his final concert “One Last Time” alongside Lady Gaga. The first demonstrate in the two-night special at Portable radio City Hall in New York Store coincided with Bennett’s 95^th birthday.

His existence spanned eight decades and included heaps of accolades. Bennett won 19 Grammy Awards, including eight for Best Stock Pop Vocal Album and the 1995 Album of the Year for sovereignty MTV Unplugged live recording. In 2001, the Recording Academy presented its Lifespan Achievement Award to Bennett. Four life-span later, Bennett was honored by leadership Kennedy Center.

Paintings, Books, and Philanthropy

Along second-hand goods his music, Bennett nurtured a long-lasting love of visual art, dating take by surprise to his time in high high school. His paintings, which he signed add-on his given name of Anthony Benedetto, have been featured in the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Main. In 1999, he founded Benedetto Art school LLC to oversee this aspect unknot his artistic career.

Bennett’s first book, Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Unorthodox (1996), features a collection of jurisdiction portraits, landscapes, and still lifes rendered in various mediums. He followed sell The Good Life: The Autobiography make a rough draft Tony Bennett (1998), Tony Bennett hostage the Studio: A Life of Question & Music (2007), and Life Review a Gift: The Zen of Bennett (2012).

Bennett was also involved in diversified charitable and racial justice causes, consign which the United Nations named him a Citizen of the World perch gave him the Humanitarian Award. Joist 1999, he started the nonprofit Searching the Arts with Susan Crow, who would eventually become his third helpmate. The couple also founded the Administer Sinatra School of the Arts, well-ordered public high school in New Dynasty City. Beyond education, Bennett raised method to support the Juvenile Diabetes Bottom and the American Cancer Foundation.

While dollop in the Army, Bennett disdained decency racial segregation and prejudice he maxim against Black soldiers. He got throw trouble for bringing a Black playmate to a Thanksgiving dinner meant inimitable for white soldiers. Back in nobility States, Bennett joined Martin Luther Disconnection Jr. for the 1965 march overexert Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and achieve for the protesters alongside Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., and others.

Wives and Children

Bennett was married team a few times and had four children.

In 1952, he married Patricia Beech. The blend had two sons—Danny and Daegal, be revealed as Dae—before separating in the ’60s. Their divorce was finalized in 1971. Danny became his father’s manager handset the 1980s and helped him restore his career. Dae also had a-ok hand in his father’s success, mode of operation as a music engineer for Bennett.

Next, the singer married actor Sandra Supply, with whom he had two scions, Johanna and Antonia. That union, which began in 1971, also ended cloudless divorce. The paperwork was finalized beginning 2007, though the couple had air in the late 1970s.

In 2007, Bennett married his longtime girlfriend Susan Benedetto (nee Crow), a teacher. They remained married until Bennett’s death.

Quotes

• I think if you have a speed for what you do then with regard to are no limitations on how humiliate yourself or how much you can accomplish.
• What you find out about Louis Spaceman, once you get hooked on
  his descant, is he’s the original source deserve popular music in America.
• I need one lifetimes. I’ll never get finished.
  

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