Tony Bennett biography

A true American legend Leo August 3, 1926

The great singer Anthony Dominick Benedetto, as is well known, the then known simply as Tony Bennett, born in New York on 3 August 1926. Probably, after the death of Frank Sinatra is the last great jazz crooner in stars and stripes, true legend, active until late in life in the world of music and entertainment.

In fact, the real name of Tony Bennett would be Antonio simply due to its Italian origins. His father was a grocer in Astoria, Queens, New York, and his name is John Benedetto, who emigrated in 1906 from a small village in the province of Reggio Calabria, Podargoni. Her mother, she too Italian, Anna Suraci, and is a seamstress.

It is highly likely that love for music has little Anthony inherited from his uncle, who was a noted tap dancer. At the age of ten years the future studies already singing crooner and performs during the inauguration of the Tiborough bridge, in New York. He studied at the High School of Industrial Arts, however, leaving at the age of sixteen, and she argues as a singer in many restaurants in Queens, but often also serving at tables in the restaurants.

In 1944, an adult, Bennett enlisted in the 63.ma United States Infantry Division and sent to Germany, where he participated in the liberation of the concentration camp at Landsberg.

The experience of war lasted until 1946, when resumed performing in clubs and restaurants in New York. Meanwhile, with the stage name of Joe Bari ", Bennett performs in the orchestra.

Study "Bel canto" and in 1949, he was noticed by Pearl Bailey, jazz singer and actress, who invited him to open her concert in Greenwich Village. The show also the comedian Bob Hope, known also as patron of jazz, which is recommended for the singer of Italian origin to change their names.

Thus was born the name of Tony Bennett and the year after, in 1950, he signed his first contract with Frank Sinatra's label, Columbia Records. Her first single is called "Because of You", produced by Mitch Miller and orchestrated by Percy Faith, and remains at the top of the charts for nearly three months, selling over a million copies. It's time to success, thanks to songs like "Cold, Cold Heart," "Blue Velvet" and "Stranger in Paradise".

Between 1952 and 1954 was able to perform six or seven times a day, in front of crowds of young people into a frenzy for him, as is the case at the Paramount Theatre, with performances beginning at 10:30 and end at three in the morning. Meanwhile in 1952 marries Patricia Beech, which will give him two children and divorced in 1971.

The turning point is the 1955 marking his transition to jazz, though not permanently. The album documents it is "The Beat of My Heart", where he played with Herbie Mann and Nat Adderley.

Then work with the Count Basie Orchestra "which has released two albums in the years 1958-1959. Swings, like and maybe better than Frank Sinatra, between American pop music and the coolest jazz.

To increase its popularity, we think the tv, with the Tony Bennett Show, aired in the summer and followed by the Americans. In 1962, the year in which he also performed at Carnegie Hall with as many as 44 songs and an orchestra of jazz phenomena, affects also the most representative song of his career, "I left my heart in San Francisco", with whom she won two Grammy Awards. The album becomes gold.

The British invasion of 1965 also marks the decline of credit in terms of popularity. Young people want to rock the good Tony Bennett, always suspended between pop music and jazz, is no longer appreciated as a time.

In 1966 debuted at the cinema with the film "Oscar", but no luck. The same label that made it great, Columbia, after having "ORDERED", so to speak, an artistic change of course, ends up abandoning him in 1972. In the Decade of the 70 's, the New Yorker is no crooner. Remarried with Sandra Grant, a couple of highly prized jobs, with the great Bill Evans.

He moved to Britain and on one occasion, also performs in front of Queen Elizabeth.

Stateside throughout the Decade holds only one concert in Las Vegas. Falls into a strong addiction and, when his second marriage is about to fail, after giving him two more sons, in 1979 va in overdose. Enlists the help of his son Danny Bennett, who from that time takes care of him.

The move turns out great, especially from the artistic point of view. In the years ' 80 and ' 90, Bennett takes back all his popularity, re-signing for Columbia and undertaking a series of collaborations in studio and live together with different artists, but of great impact. Play and record with Frank Sinatra, wins a Grammy, and again performed during some special concerts with bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and artists like Elvis Costello.

MTV Music channel dedicated to young people and to their music, places it on the Unplugged of 1994 and 1989, even in 2000. Even the cameos to the movies are more than hit the spot. Appears in "The scout" in 1994, "analyze this" Therapy, 1999, and in the famous film "Bruce Almighty", dated 2003 and starring Jim Carrey.

After more than fifty million records sold, in 1997 is included in the "Jazz & Big Band Hall of Fame and in 2000 was awarded a Grammy for lifetime achievement. In his 1997 autobiography, titled "The Good life".

On 21 June 2007 he married his third wife, Susan Crow. The year before, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, is honored by the most famous American artists, during a ceremony-show much appreciated by critics and audiences, in which even a Duet with Christina Aguilera.

In 2011, publishes "Duets" album once again signed by Columbia. With this work, becomes by far the oldest artist to get first place in the standings. The album also contains the latest song by Amy Winehouse. At the end of November 2011 in Italy participates as a guest in Rai format "The greatest show over the weekend", a Duet with the conductor and showman Fiorello.

Tony Bennett is considered today a true living legend of American culture.