By KATHARINE RAMSDEN
Player Anthony Dominick Benedetto, known professionally as Tony Bennett, a jazz and pop singer, received 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was also a Kennedy Center Honoree.
The Queens native began singing at an early age, and after fighting in World War II in the U.S. Army, he began to develop what would become his singing technique. He signed with Columbia Records and had his first number-one popular song with “Because of You” in 1951. Several popular tracks, such as “Rags to Riches,” followed in early 1953. He then refined his approach to encompass jazz singing.
He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennet Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, “ I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. His career and personal life had an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a comeback in the late 1980s, and continued performing into his 90s, singing duets with prominent singers of many genres, including Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse.
Frank Sinatra called him “… the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He's the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more."
After his retirement in early 2022, Bennett continued to rehearse with his music director three times a week until his death on July 21, 2023.
Katharine Ramsden is a (semi-retired) former journalist and corporate communications executive. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she is a recently new Player, avid reader and one time a cappella singer.
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