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A life in song: Tony Bennett still singing at 80
Crooner reflects on singing partners for ‘Duets/An American Classic’
 Bebeto Matthews / AP Singer Tony Bennett, in his modest manner, says he's flattered that stars from across the musical spectrum — from Paul McCartney and Billy Joel to the Dixie Chicks and Juanes — interrupted their busy schedules to record with him. |
Interviews, performances |
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NEW YORK - Tony Bennett has embraced turning 80 with that mixture of easygoing graciousness and ebullient optimism that has sustained him through a career as an entertainer spanning seven decades.
"I'm 80 and I can't believe it's the best year I've ever had," said Bennett, sitting in a hotel suite overlooking Central Park where he's temporarily living while his nearby apartment is remodeled.
"I couldn't ask for more than I have," said the silver-haired Bennett, in that raspy voice so familiar from his recordings. "But I still have so much to learn ... how to perform better, to paint better."
Bennett has used his birthday celebrations to raise funds to support the public high school he founded in September 2001, the Frank Sinatra School for the Performing Arts, in his home borough of Queens, which he sees as his living legacy to nurture future generations of artists.
On the coffee table, Bennett has his watercolors and a sketch of several dancers. He’s adapting it from a photograph of a dance number from his upcoming NBC special (airing Nov. 21), directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) who made a series of short films depicting highlights of his career.
The TV special will reprise duet performances by Bennett with Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall and others from his just released CD, "Tony Bennett: Duets/An American Classic."
Bennett, in his modest manner, says he's flattered that stars from across the musical spectrum — from Paul McCartney and Billy Joel to the Dixie Chicks and Juanes — interrupted their busy schedules to record with him.
Bennett, who turned 80 on Aug. 3, admits he had some apprehensions when his son and manager, Danny, suggested the duets record. He insisted on recording the tracks in the studio with each duet partner rather than rely on long-distance, multitrack wizardry.
"I've always worked that way ... for the spontaneity and freshness of an honest performance," said Bennett.
R&B singer John Legend said his duet with Bennett gave him the confidence to record several tracks with his band without multitracking for his upcoming CD, "Once Again."
"I knew from doing it with Tony that it would work," said the 27-year-old Legend, who recorded the gospel-influenced "Sing You Sinners" with Bennett in Los Angeles right after he won the Grammy for best new artist and Bennett took home his 13th career Grammy.
"I think what's remarkable about Tony's career is that he's always picked great songs to cover, and he's great at phrasing and interpreting those songs and bringing them to life," Legend said.
In an interview, Bennett reflected on some of the songs from his new CD which are linked with career milestones, people who influenced him or reflect his outlook on life:
"Rags to Riches" (with Elton John)
The song's title reminds Bennett of his rise from humble origins. The son of an Italian immigrant grocer, Anthony Dominick Benedetto grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, across the river from the towers of Manhattan, where he now lives.
BENNETT: We grew up during the Depression. ... My father died when I was 10 years old and my mother who was a seamstress had to raise three children. But I had a beautiful family of Italian-Americans that were so wonderful to my mother. Her sisters and brothers would bring their families around every Sunday and make a circle around my brother, sister and myself. ... They had so much fun being entertained by us.
I've never lost that philosophy. I love the performers like Louis Armstrong or Jimmy Durante because they did the same kind of thing, they made everybody feel good. ... The whole country is obsessed with being told that they have to fear this and that, and if I can entertain people and make them forget their problems, it's very gratifying for me. ...
I have enough. I don't understand how some people can have billions of dollars. If you have one billion dollars you could buy anything ... I don't understand someone having 39 billion dollars. Give it out to the poor.
"The Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (with Sting)
/"Because of You" (with k.d. lang)
Bob Hope discovered Bennett in a Greenwich Village club in 1949 and invited the young singer to tour with him. The comedian also persuaded him to change his stage name to Tony Bennett. Columbia's A&R chief Mitch Miller signed the singer and released his first single in 1950.
BENNETT: These are the two songs that got me going in the record business. ... `Boulevard of Broken Dreams' was a semi-hit but it was just enough to get me jobs in little clubs in Boston, Buffalo and Cleveland. ... `Because of You' was a big, big hit for me. It was No. 1 on the Billboard charts for weeks. ...That really kicked me into the big time. ... the Paramount Theater in New York doing seven shows a day.
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