Biography:
Anthony Dominick Benedeto, better known as Tony Bennett was born in New York City in 1926. He has entered the musical environment by beginning music lessons on 52nd Street, which he maintained with his work in clubs and music programs. radio and television.
In 1949 he had the fortune to act and certainly stand out in the “Greenwich Village” with Pearl Bailey and has been hired by Bob Hope for a few days, unforgettable for him. And he has been recommended by him and has been encouraged to send a private recording to the artistic director of the Columbia label who hires him as soon as they hear it.
Later comes the beginning of Tony Benett’s ballad career, which is influenced by artists of the stature of Billy Eckstine and Mel Tormé. At this stage his first albums have been shown with excellent quality in his vocal art. Tony has then contributed generously to the “Count Basie” orchestra.
Bennett has fortunately found an arranger on the Ralph Burns label, who was knowledgeable in the bigband tradition, although he would record for Columbia under jazz enemy Mitch Miller.
And so in the ’70s, Tony’s peak comes, shining with his jazzy singing, and he has accentuated it by recording essential albums in his career, this time for the “Fantasy” label.
Passing from decade to decade, Tony Bennett has recorded an impeccable album in tribute to his dear friend and teacher, Frank Sinatra entitled “Perfectly Frank”, with which he wins a Grammy and, which is a model of balance of jazz singing.
The musician has been the protagonist of his recording of a live album for MTV entitled “Unplugged”, which has marked a different stage.
Essential discography
- (1957) The Beat of My Heart
- (1958) Basie Swings, Bennett Sings
- (1961) Bennett and Basie Strike up the Band
- (1962) At Carnegie Hall
- (1962) I Left My Heart in San Francisco
- (1963) I Wanna Be Around …
- (1968) Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album
- (1975) The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album
- (1986) The Art of Excellence
- (1990) Astoria: Portrait of the Artist