base talk Tony Bennett through the decades: his greatest achievements

[Kevin Parker]

 

Anthony Dominick Benedetto, legendary crooner, was born to Italian parents on August 3, 1926 in New York City. His father, who encouraged Tony to be a musician, died when he was only 10 years old. He grew up with his mother and two older siblings in poverty.

 

He started performing at 13 years old, singing in Italian restaurants in Queens. He studied music and painting at School of Industrial Art, though he dropped out at 16 to find a proper job and help his family financially.

 

At 18, he was sent to the US Army and fought in France and Germany. He described the experience as "a permanent nightmare". However, he had the chance to sing and play with the Army Special Services Band, under the name Joe Bari.

 

He returned to the United States at 20 and studied the bel canto discipline, a light and melodic singing style that gained popularity in Europe in the early 1900s.

 

He was finally signed to Columbia Records at 24 years old, after sending a demo of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". His first big hits were "Because of You" (which stayed at the top of the charts for 10 weeks) and "Blue Velvet". He continued collecting hits with songs such as "Rags to Riches" and "Stranger In Paradise"; the latter becoming a hit in the UK and kicking off Tony's international career.

 

 

At 29, he released his debut album Cloud 7 to critical and commercial success. This marked his departure from pop music and the beginning of his true jazz endeavours.

 

Eight years later, at 37, Tony offered a legendary performance at Carnegie Hall in NYC. That same year, he released his signature classic, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco".

 

When he was 40 in 1965, he was praised by no other than Frank Sinatra, who called him "the best singer in the business". Around that age, his career started to decline rapidly; he tried acting but failed miserably. Instead he got into politics and participated in battles and protests in favor of black people rights in America. At 45, in attempt to revive his music career, Columbia made him record Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today, a cover album of The Beatles and other big hits of the moment. The project was terribly rejected by critics and fans.

 

Two years later, at 47, he parted ways with Columbia and signed MGM/Philips, a decision that buried his career even further. He funded his own record label Improv but nothing came from it. By the end of the 70s, Tony had no contract and developed a drug addiction. He overdosed on cocaine in 1979 and confessed his depression to his sons, telling them: "It seems that people don't want to hear the music I make". ()

 

His son Danny became his manager, got him a new contract with Columbia and produced Tony's album The Art of Excellence (1986, when he was 60). The project successfully marked the return of Bennett into the industry. "Life In A Looking Glass", from the film That's Life, got him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. During the early 90s, Tony appeared frequently on Late Night with David Letterman, introducing him to younger audiences. In 1993, he said: "I realized that young people had never heard those songs. Cole Porter, Gershwin – they were like, 'Who wrote that?' To them, it was different. If you're different, you stand out."

 

One year later in 1994 (he was 68), he had a new career peak with the tremendously successful live album MTV Unplugged. It won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. In 1998, he gave an unexpected yet highly acclaimed performance at Glastonbury. In 1999, he said he wanted to follow the steps of Picasso and Fred Astaire: "Right up to the day they died, they were performing. If you are creative, you get busier as you get older."

 

By the end of the 90s and early 00s his shows gained enormous popularity. His skills, live album, festival gigs and world tours earned him a fresh reputation.

 

 

In 2006, when he was 80, he released the double-Platinum, double-Grammy-winning Duets: An American Classic and received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award, the most prestigious jazz prize in the United States.

 

By the late 2000s and early 10s, duets with icons and younger singers became his trademark. He recorded collaborations with Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, George Michael, Barba Streisand, as well as with Michael Buble, John Legend, Amy Winehouse and Carrie Underwood. 2011's Duets II included "The Lady Is A Tramp", the beginning of his friendship and decade-long work with pop singer Lady Gaga.

 

At 88, Bennett and Gaga released their first collaborative project Cheek to Cheek, debuting at No. 1 in the US (making him the oldest person to ever do so). The album won a Grammy and the duo toured North America and Europe successfully.

 

In 2021, at 95, Tony announced his Alzheimer's disease and retirement from the business. He released his farewell album Love for Sale with Lady Gaga (which made him the oldest person ever to put out an album) and gave a final, Emmy-nominated performance at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

 

Tony Bennett won 20 Grammy Awards, was honoured multiple times for his many talents, has sold over 50 million records and given thousands of live concerts. He spoke and fought against racism, sexism and war.

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by Kevin Parker

[State of Grace.]

Happy birthday legend. What an amazing career.  

[JohnWayneHolland]

Happy birthday to this legend 

[Leptine]

Happy Birthday

[gustavothehuman]

This made me a bit emotional, he certainly lived a life, all the highs and lows, happy birthday legend 

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by gustavothehuman

[monster_enriquer]

[Yomaku]

[OreGuy]

legendary