Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 in Astoria, Queens, New York City. Growing up in New York City he began singing at an early age, at 10 at the ribbon cutting of the Triborough Bridge and by thirteen singing for money in various restaurants.

Developing his technique after World War II, in 1949,Pearl Bailey recognized his talent and asked him to open for her in Greenwich Village, in which Bob Hope was in attendance. The performance ultimately had Hope taking Benedetto on the road and shortening his name to Tony Bennett. He then cut a demo of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and was signed to Columbia Records by Mitch Miller.

With Columbia Records he had his first number one hit with “Because Of You” in 1951. This was followed by several hits throughout the decade as he furthered his approach to jazz singing. By 1962 Tony recorded his signature tune “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” but unfortunately his career suffered an extended downturn with the onset of the rock era.

Launching a comeback some twenty years later, by the end of the 80s and for the next decade Bennett released a series of gold albums and expanded his audience to the MTV generation. He has worked with Art Blakey, Count Basie, Herbie Mann, Nat Adderley, Candido Camero, Jo Jones, Kenny Burrell and Chico Hamilton.

Bennett list of accomplishments include 17 Grammys, two Emmys, being named a NEA Jazz Master and Kennedy Center Honoree, selling over 50 million records worldwide and participating in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches during the Civil rights Movement. He is also a serious and accomplished painter having created works that are on permanent public display in several institutions and is the founder of Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in New York City. He continues to record, perform and tour.

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