By Dawoud Kringle

Writing tributes to recently deceased musicians is never easy. It is especially difficult when the deceased not only had hit records but created a hit catalog, released more than 70 albums, won 19 Grammys (most of which he won after he reached his 60s), enjoyed deep and lasting affection and respect from fans and fellow artists, and almost single handedly embodied an entire genre and musical tradition spanning three quarters of a century.

Copyright: © MARK SELIGER

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, Queens, New York on Aug. 3, 1926, to Italian immigrant parents. He began singing as a child, and studied music and painting, at New York’s High School of Industrial Art. His vocal influences included Al Jolson, Bing Crosby,  Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Judy Garland.

In 1944, he served in World War II. His military service included combat infantry duty and liberating a German concentration camp. After the end of the war, he sang as a member of an Armed Forces band.

When he returned from the war, he cut his first recordings for Leslie Records in 1949, under the name “Joe Bari.” The singles were not successful.

An appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s talent show (where he placed second to Rosemary Clooney) gave him a break. He appeared on the 1949 TV show “Songs for Sale.” On the strength of that appearance, Pearl Bailey hired him as a club opener. Bob Hope was in the audience, and took Bennett under his wing, Hope hired him for his stage show at New York’s Paramount Theatre.

In 1950, Bennett submitted a demo of Harry Warren’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” to Mitch Miller, Columbia Records’ head of A&R. Bennett was signed to the label and recorded a remake of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” This  was succeeded by three Number. 1 pop singles: “Because of You” (1951), “Cold, Cold Heart” (a reinterpretation of the Hank Williams’ country hit , 1951) and “Rags to Riches” (1953, which was used for the opening credits of Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas”).

At this time, Bennett cut several albums, including “The Beat of My Heart” (1957), “Strike Up the Band” and “In Person!” (both 1959; the former featuring drummers Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton and Jo Jones) collaborations with the Count Basie Orchestra; and “Tony Sings for Two” (1961; a duet with pianist Sharon, who became Bennett’s musical director in 1957.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was released as the B-side of “Once Upon a Time” in 1962. The album of the same name went to No. 5 nationally. Bennett won his first Grammys with the song for record of the year and best male solo vocal performance.

Following a  concert at Carnegie Hall, he released the top 20 hits “I Wanna Be Around” and “The Good Life” in 1963.

The increasing popularity of rock and roll and the onset of Beatlemania had an adverse effect on Bennett’s career. Columbia made some attempts to “contemporize” his sound. After several albums and singles that are perhaps best forgotten. Bennett split with Columbia in 1971, and signed with MGM Records, His association with MG was unproductive. Bennett started his own label, Improv Records, and recorded two albums of Rodgers & Hart songs and two duo albums with Bill Evans, both classics of vocal art. Problems with distribution caused Improv to go out of business in 1977.

This was a difficult time in Bennett’s life. He had no label or manager, was going through a vicious divorce from his second wife, the IRS  extorted money from him, and was struggling with a severe cocaine addiction. At this low point, his son Danny Bennett assumed management of his father’s career in 1980.

This produced a renaissance in Bennett’s career. He was booked on “The David Letterman Show” and the MTV Video Music Awards (appearing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers). This gave Bennett a fresh audience (who may not even have been aware of his earlier work). He returned to Columbia Records and produced a series of concept albums. His album “The Art of Excellence” (1986), and the Grammy-winning “Perfectly Frank” and “Steppin’ Out” (1992 and 1993; tributes to Sinatra and Fred Astaire, respectively). He did an “MTV Unplugged” special and album. Bennett maintained this pace through the ‘90s and into the 21st century. He recorded albums with tributes to Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and the blues. His duet album, “A Wonderful World,” with K.D. Lang won him a Grammy in 2002.

The revival of his musical career coincided with an increased notoriety as a painter and artist. His work was exhibited in galleries internationally, and his rendering of New York’s Central Park hangs in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. He published books about his art in 1996 and 2007. His autobiography, “The Good Life,” written with Will Friedwald, was published in 1998.

Bennett received Emmys for his recitals “Live by Request” (1996) and “An American Classic” (2007).  His acting credits included appearances on the ‘60s detective show “77 Sunset Strip” and a featured role in “The Oscar.”.

The crisp, soaring tenor of his youth became a darker, grainy baritone in his later years, Despite this, Bennett’s interpretive skills as a singer remained unmatched. His agility and virtuosity in his craft were indisputably demonstrated on his two “Duets” collections, which paired him with several stars young enough to be his children (such as Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, and Bono). The second collection hit the top of the charts with a 179,000-copy debut week in September 2011, making Bennett the oldest performer in history to release a No. 1 album.

Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2016, but continued to perform until 2016. He died of natural causes on Thursday, July 20th, 2023. He is survived by his wife Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett, and nine grandchildren.

News of his passing created a flood of accolades. A sample includes;

“It’s a gift that I will hold in my heart till my last breath. My time with Tony has changed me forever.”
Lady Gaga

“Rest in peace, Tony… you changed the world with your voice. Thank you for always being so kind to me. I love you and I’ll miss you very much.”
-Harry Connick Jr.

“My most heartfelt condolences go out to Tony Bennett’s family and friends. They’re also my emotional family and friends,”
– Nile Rogers

“He was one of the most splendid people who ever lived. Kind, loving, talented and generous, he never let us down. Sending my love to Susan, Danny and their family and friends. Tony was a true champion.”
– Nancy Sinatra

“So sad to hear of Tony’s passing. Without doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see. He’s irreplaceable. I loved and adored him. Condolences to Susan, Danny and the family.”
– Elton John

“RIP Tony Bennett. The best of the best. The last of the legends. A man whose heart was as big as his voice. The world’s foremost practitioner of the ‘Art Of Excellence.’ Deepest love and condolences to my friend Danny and the family.”
– Steven Van Zant

“(Bennett was) one of the most important interpreters of American popular song. He championed songwriters who might otherwise have remained unknown to many millions of music fans. He was a joy to work with. His energy and enthusiasm for the material he was performing was infectious. He was also one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever known,”
Billy Joel

“The last of his kind and a master of the American songbook. He may have left his Heart in San Francisco, but he won all of our hearts, from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. Be at peace, and sing to us now from the stars, Tony,”
– George Takai

Tony Bennett was the very definition of the American Standard song master, and the quintessential master of a uniquely American musical genre. And he had the kind of charm and personal gravitas that made anyone who listened to him, or worked with him, feel special. It’s no wonder that one of his very few peers, Frank Sinatra, called him the greatest popular singer in the world.

MFM salutes the memory of Tony Bennett.