American singer Tony Bennett masterfully performed various musical genres, from intimate ballads to pop music. He performed before 11 US presidents, was a veteran of World War II and marched side by side with Martin Luther King in the civil rights march. With his music, Bennett won the hearts of audiences of all ages. The artist sold over 50 million records and received 20 Grammy Awards for songs that became pop music classics. His concerts around the world were sold out and received accolades every time he took the stage. Learn more at queens-trend.
EARLY YEARS
Anthony Dominick Benedetto (his real name) was born on August 3, 1926, in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens. His father was a grocer and mother was a seamstress. When Anthony was a kid, he was fond of singing and drawing. At the suggestion of a vocal teacher, the boy immersed himself in the music of instrumentalists rather than vocalists, which shaped his love for jazz. Loving family and his first fans always encouraged the boy and instilled self-belief in him.
During World War II, he served for three years in the army. There, he also performed with military orchestras. Later, Anthony studied vocal at the American Theatre Wing School. In 1949, the war veteran started his singing career. A breakthrough in Benedetto’s life occurred a year later when comedian and actor Bob Hope noticed the performer in a nightclub and invited him to perform at his own engagement. It was Hope who came up with the pseudonym Tony Bennett, as he believed that his real name was too long.
CAREER RISE
The artist’s first hit was the song “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” released in 1951. Thanks to it, he signed a contract with the recording studio Columbia Records. Over the next few years, Bennett released hits such as “Because of You,” “Cold Cold Heart,” “Stranger in Paradise,” “Just in Time” and “Rags to Riches.”
During the 1950s, Tony Bennett collaborated with jazz stars, including Count Basie, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Art Blakey and Bobby Hackett. Although Tony did not want to label himself solely as a jazz singer, his work with jazz performers was always praised by critics.
In 1962, the performer released one of his biggest hits, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Songs like “I Wanna Be Around,” “The Good Life” and “Who Can I Turn To” gained popularity in the 1960s as well. In 1972, the singer left Columbia Records to start his own label, Improv. He didn’t achieve significant success in the charts during this period. However, many compositions from those years are considered some of the best in the work of the New Yorker. While creating them, Tony collaborated again with jazz performers, including Ruby Braff and Bill Evans.
The lull in Bennett’s career came to an end when he returned to Columbia Records in 1986 and released the album “The Art of Excellence.” Then, Danny, the artist’s manager and also his son, started actively promoting his father in the music industry. The efforts paid off, as the following decade turned out to be the most commercially successful in Bennett’s career. His albums, almost all of which were Grammy winners or nominees, sold millions of copies.
THE FAVORITE OF GENERATION X
In 1993, Bennett appeared on MTV Unplugged, where participants performed their songs on acoustic instruments. There, he presented the album “MTV Unplugged” (1994), which won two Grammy awards and stayed at the top of the jazz charts for 35 weeks. Despite gaining recognition among the younger generation during the show, Bennett remained true to himself and his musical traditions.
In the new millennium, Bennett’s artistry and popularity reached the pinnacle. In 2011, Tony released the album “Duets II,” which featured the single “Body and Soul.” He co-wrote this song with British singer Amy Winehouse. They received a Grammy for this track, specifically for Best Pop Duo. 85-year-old Tony became the oldest artist to top the Billboard chart.
The pop king had another important collaboration in 2014, namely with Lady Gaga. They created the jazz album “Cheek to Cheek.” It also won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, as did “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern,” which he recorded with jazz pianist Bill Charlap a year later.
Although Bennett’s style remained mostly the same over the years, the singer constantly improved his vocal skills and translation abilities. At the beginning of the 21st century, Bennett was still actively touring. He was often invited as a headliner by the organizers of jazz festivals.
Another joint work by Bennett and the queen of extravagance Lady Gaga was released in 2021. It was a collection of Cole Porter songs titled “Love for Sale.” The collaboration brought the duo their second Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. To promote the album, the artists gave two concerts, which became Bennett’s final public performances.
PUBLIC ACTIVITY
Throughout his life, Tony Bennett was a committed pacifist and supported humanitarian causes. The UN named Tony a Citizen of the World and one of its most outstanding ambassadors. The singer realized the American Dream but never forgot his roots and constantly worked to help others unlock their own potential.
Interestingly, Tony Bennett is not only a singer and social activist but also an artist. He painted even during international tours and exhibited his works in galleries across the world. Every year, his original paintings were featured on the cover of the greeting card of the American Cancer Society, which raises funds for cancer research. Additionally, Tony raised millions of dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
He actively fought for the purity of the environment and social justice. The artist spoke out against racial discrimination. Alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., he participated in the historic march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, the former largest state of slaveholders. 25,000 people joined the mass movement for the voting rights of African Americans.
DISEASE AND DEATH
In 2021, Bennett publicly announced that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that affects every 16th person aged 65 and older. Although the disease was diagnosed back in 2016, the artist kept performing and making music until early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. He returned to the stage for a short time in 2021.
Singing classes stimulated Bennett’s brain and saved him from disorientation, depression and detachment from reality. Before the pandemic, regular tours kept the singer in shape. Despite feeling confusion and bewilderment, the artist recorded tracks with Gaga.
In August 2021, his son Danny revealed that the disease had affected Bennett’s short-term memory. He could forget that he had performed right after a concert. However, his long-term memory was still good, enabling Tony to remember the lyrics to all of his songs.
The king of the American pop scene passed away in July 2023 at his home in New York at the age of 96. The legendary singer was buried alongside his parents at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.
