Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Tony Bennett
Birth name	Anthony Dominick Benedetto
Birth date	August 3, 1926
Birth place	Astoria, Queens, New York City
Death date	July 21, 2023
Death place	New York City
Occupation	Singer, painter
Genre	Traditional pop, Jazz, Show tunes

Tony Bennett was a renowned American singer, best known for his interpretations of Great American Songbook standards, particularly those by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin. With a career spanning over seven decades, he performed with numerous notable artists, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Count Basie. His distinctive voice and style have been praised by critics and audiences alike, earning him numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. He was also a talented painter, and his artwork has been exhibited at various galleries, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Early life and education

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, Queens, New York City, to a family of Italian-American descent. He grew up in a musical household, influenced by his mother's love of Opera and his father's passion for Jazz. He attended the High School of Industrial Art in Manhattan, where he studied Painting and Sculpture. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he began his music career, performing in Nightclubs and Theaters in New York City, including the famous Carnegie Hall and the Radio City Music Hall. He was discovered by Bob Hope, who helped launch his career, and he soon became a regular performer on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Music career

Tony Bennett's music career spanned over seven decades, during which he released numerous albums, including I Left My Heart in San Francisco, What the World Needs Now Is Love, and Duets: An American Classic. He collaborated with many notable artists, such as Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John, and performed at various venues, including the Hollywood Bowl, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. He was a long-time friend and collaborator of Frank Sinatra, and the two often performed together, including at the Sand Hotel in Las Vegas and the Paramount Theatre in New York City. He also worked with other famous musicians, such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole, and was a frequent guest on The Merv Griffin Show and The Mike Douglas Show.

Art and philanthropy

In addition to his music career, Tony Bennett was a talented painter, and his artwork has been exhibited at various galleries, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was a long-time supporter of the American Cancer Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and he performed at numerous charity events, including the Tribute to Harry Belafonte and the Benefit for the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. He was also a supporter of the New York City arts scene, and he performed at various venues, including the Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and the Screen Actors Guild, and he was awarded a National Medal of Arts in 2005.

Personal life and legacy

Tony Bennett was married three times, first to Patricia Beech, then to Sandra Grant, and finally to Susan Crow. He had four children, including Danny Bennett, who managed his career, and Dae Bennett, who produced many of his albums. He was a long-time resident of New York City, and he lived in an apartment in Central Park South with his wife, Susan Crow. He was a close friend of many celebrities, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Billy Joel, and he performed at numerous high-profile events, including the Inauguration of Barack Obama and the Tribute to Frank Sinatra. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Discography and filmography

Tony Bennett released over 70 albums during his career, including Cloud 7, The Beat of My Heart, and I Left My Heart in San Francisco. He appeared in numerous films and television shows, including The Oscar, Analyze This, and Saturday Night Live. He was the subject of several documentaries, including Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends and The Zen of Bennett, and he wrote two autobiographies, What My Heart Has Seen and Life Is a Gift. His music has been featured in various films and television shows, including The Sopranos, Mad Men, and The Simpsons, and he has been name-checked by numerous artists, including Amy Winehouse, Michael Bublé, and Josh Groban. He won 20 Grammy Awards and was nominated for a total of 44, and he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2001. Category:American singers