Tony Bennett had an extended and profitable profession as a jazz artist – however the “Due to You” singer began out with humble beginnings.
The 19-time Grammy award winner (actual identify Anthony Dominick Benedetto) was born in Queens, New York in 1926 to a low-income household. His father, Giovanni “John” Benedetto, was a grocer and his mom, Anna Maria Suraci, was a seamstress. The Nice Melancholy hit the household exhausting as John’s well being declined. He died by the point Bennett was 10 years outdated.
The New York native started singing at a younger age and would observe whereas ready tables as a way to assist his household financially. “I began after I was about 6. I by no means met an Italian descent household in America that isn’t musical,” Bennett mentioned in an interview with Jazz Skilled in 1966.
The “I Left My Coronary heart in San Francisco” artist had his large break in 1949 when vaudeville singer Pearl Bailey invited him to open for her live performance collection in Greenwich Village. Entertainer Bob Hope attended one of many performances and provided Bennett a spot in his present on the Paramount Theater. On the time, Bennett was going by the stage identify Joe Bari and it was Hope that urged he change it to Tony Bennett.
One yr later, the crooner signed with Columbia Information and launched chart-topping songs together with “Due to You” and “Blue Velvet.”. He received his first Grammy in 1962 for his recording of “I Left My Coronary heart in San Francisco” and would proceed to gather a complete of 19 wins with 41 nominations.
Bennett stayed within the highlight all through the many years by gaining reputation with a youthful viewers, whilst pop music started to shift and alter within the ‘90s. His 1994 look on MTV Unplugged resulted in a platinum album and a Grammy win for Album of the 12 months.
Bennett continued to realize nice success and recognition all through the 2000s, together with being honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and receiving the Kennedy Heart Honors Award 4 years later. It was in 2011 that he started a close-knit friendship with Girl Gaga, who would develop into a frequent collaborator over the subsequent decade.
Bennett and the “Simply Dance” artist launched the Grammy-winning album Cheek to Cheek in 2014, whereas additionally incomes Bennett – who was 88 on the time – a Guinness World Document for “oldest particular person to achieve No. 1 on the U.S. Album Chart with a newly recorded album.” The duo additionally launched a live performance particular, Tony Bennett and Girl Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Stay!, in celebration of the document’s reputation. Bennett’s last album was launched in September 2021, and it was one other collaborative effort with Gaga, this one entitled Love For Sale.
One month prior, Bennett introduced his retirement amid his Alzheimer’s prognosis. His last dwell and recorded performances with the “Shallow” artist had been changed into the TV particular, One Final Time: An Night with Tony Bennett and Girl Gaga, which debuted in November that yr.
All through the “Love For Sale” singer’s monumental profession success, he’s additionally discovered love quite a few occasions. Bennett married his first spouse, Patricia Beech, in 1952 and collectively welcomed two sons, Danny and Dae, earlier than finalizing their divorce in 1971. Bennett welcomed his first daughter, Joanna, in 1970, along with his second spouse, Sandra Grant, whom he wed after his divorce from Beech. The couple went on to have one other daughter, Antonia. The duo separated in 2007, and Bennett married his third spouse, Susan Crow, that very same yr.
Bennett died on July 21, 2023, weeks away from his 97th birthday.
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