Article.. This is a sad, sad day to music and musicians everywhere. A master vocalist who paired up with k.d. lang and Lady Gaga, continuing to make music up until very recently. You had my heart, Tony.
What an incredible career! I’ve very sad to see him go, but the last few years must have been very hard for him and his family. Thank you for the music, Mr. Bennett, and may flights of angels sing you to your rest!
It’s sad that he’s gone, but, man, what a hell of a run. I’m too young to remember him in his heyday, but I do remember when he and other singers like him were kind of a joke. Washed up lounge singers, the kind of music your grandparents might have listened to. But he made it passed that when a new generation rediscovered how cool he really was.
I grew up with him being one of my parents favorites. Though I never took to his singing the way I did with Sinatra or even Dean Martin.
I’m sad I can’t remember which of his songs was my Parents’ song. Though I know my Dad liked " Rags To Riches" which is probably my favorite old one by him.
He had an amazing run. I guess he was the last of them. The Italian crooners. Considering he was still performing until 2 years ago, his longevity was crazy.
He had a rough go in the 70s, as that was the prevailing attitude among many. But he was determined to keep the Great American Songbook alive and took it on pretty much single-handedly.
“You finally made it, Frankie. Oscar Night!. And here you sit, on top of a glass mountain called ‘success.’ You’re one of the chosen five, and the whole town’s holding its breath to see who won it. It’s been quite a climb, hasn’t it, Frankie? Down at the bottom, scuffling for dimes in those smokers, all the way to the top. Magic Hollywood! Ever think about it? I do, friend Frankie, I do….”
From The Oscar. The only movie Tony made. He did appear as himself in others.
Well fuckity-fuck.
Finally received his final mercy. RIP.
In addition to being a great singer, Tony was a great soul:
May Tony sing them to their rest.
If you are able to find the full 60 minutes story with him and Lady Gaga I suggest you watch it. It’s both a heart breaking story of Alzheimer’s and a sweet story of friendship. As bad as the disease was he became his old self when he was on stage singing.
I like Tony Bennett. What a voice and career! But given his age it is hard to be surprised. Thank you for the warm memories. Bless you.
The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create “a hit catalogue rather than hit records.” He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys – all but two after he reached his 60s – and enjoyed deep and lasting affection from fans and fellow artists. (from the link below.)
I was totally unaware of his Army service. Thanks for posting.
I got to perform with him in the late 90s. Touring with an orchestra is expensive, so the standard IME is to hire local musicians. So I got to play with a variety of groups. Typically we’d have a single rehearsal in the afternoon and the concert in the evening. We’d never see the artists at rehearsal. We’d be moved onto and off stage separately at the show. Zero interaction. Except Tony Bennett. He came out on stage at the rehearsal and sang a few songs with us. Then stuck around and chatted with people.
Bennett was just the last of the Italian Crooners, he was the last living link to an era of American popular music that began after WWI and ended with the rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the 1950s. I think the notable band leaders, musicians, singers, lyricists, and composers from that period are now all gone.
My favorite Tony Bennett moment was him and Stevie Wonder up on stage accepting a Grammy for their For Once In My Life collaboration.
During the acceptance speech, Stevie chokes up a bit as he dedicates the award to the memory of his mother who had passed away earlier. It was kind of a touching moment. Then Tony follows that up with, “I’d like to thank Target, the greatest sponsor I ever worked for in my life.”
I was brought up on Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him in concert about 5 years ago.
He will be missed by generations he probably never envisioned reaching.
Tony had remarkably good health. Recording and performing until about 2020. Alzheimer’s finally forced his retirement shortly after his 90th birthday.
Interesting timeline of Tony and Gaga’s collaboration.
Great story, thanks for sharing. I was in a college symphony where we had several “famous” guest performers. I hated it when they would be there only for their portion of the concert and then disappear; they never rehearsed with us. It was not quite the educational experience that it could have been. Tony Bennett obviously left a very different impression on you.
Here’s a clip of Harry and Tony being interviewed by a younger Chris Cuomo on the 50th anniversary of the Selma march. Tony says he was reluctant to go, until Harry told him of the violence that Black people were facing.