Tony Bennett and Me...

I have a simple life. I mean, you just give me a drum roll, they announce my name, and I come out and sing. In my job, I have a contract that says I'm a singer. So I sing.
Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett Sings (1971) signed by Tony — ***Tony Bennett Sings (1971)*** signed by Tony

Born and raised in Astoria, Queens, Anthony Benedetto (aka Tony Bennett) sang at an early age. He attended New York's School of Industrial Art where he studied music and painting. Tony dropped out at age sixteen to pursue his dream of being a singer, appearing in small restaurants and nightclubs as he learned his craft. Drafted into the Army in November 1944, Tony served as an infantrymen and saw front line combat as the war was ending. Later, he described his war experience as a "front row seat in hell. Anybody who thinks that war is romantic obviously hasn't gone through one."

***Publicity Shot 1950s signed by Tony***

Tony had his first number one hit, “Because Of You", in 1951 and it sold over one million copies. He followed with a rendition of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart", which introduced popular music with country music's greatest songwriter. His best known hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was brought to him by his long time pianist, Ralph Sharon, which they debuted at the Venetian Room in San Francisco's fabled Fairmont Hotel in 1961. Tony once said, "That song helped make me a world citizen. It allowed me to live, work and sing in any city on the globe. It changed my whole life." Tony is also an accomplished painter, and his oils sell for $50,000 or more, and can be found in several museums, including the Smithsonian and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

Tony Bennett’s All Time Greatest Hits (1972) signed by Tony — ***Tony Bennett’s All Time Greatest Hits (1972)*** signed by Tony

I saw Tony many times over the years at some interesting venues including the Kennedy Center, the 9:30 Club and Blues Alley in Washington, DC. A skilled and nuanced performer, one of his most memorable shows was at Blues Alley, a tiny club with seats for one hundred-fifty patrons in '84/'85. Tony was accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, led by Ralph on piano. The place was packed, and Tony delivered a stirring performance. He opened with “Rags To Riches” and went through his catalog of hits from the Great American Songbook. Tony even sang "Fly Me To The Moon" without a mic, and the crowd was hushed by his riveting performance. You could hear a pin drop.

The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album (1975) signed by Tony — ***The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album (1975)*** signed by Tony

Shortly after the stock market crash in 1987 (a real crash, the S&P 500 was down 22% in one day!), I met Tony at an art gallery opening which was showcasing his beautiful paintings. He signed a couple of albums and I bought a poster which he signed "Benedetto", his family surname. I told Tony how much I enjoyed his Blues Alley performance from a couple years back. How did you pick such a small club? "My kids went to Georgetown and they thought it would be great for me to play such a small venue. That was a great club." He was pensive when he signed the Bill Evans duet album. "Bill was a beautiful player and person. What a terrible loss. I miss him." I couldn't resist, the market had just crashed, he's selling paintings for $50,000. Tony, are you worried about the stock market? "Yes, the crash was awful. And I live in New York, so I'm concerned. I guess I will keep on singing."

Yes. More than thirty years later, Tony Bennett is still singing and painting. Beautifully.