Biography
A towering figure in the history of popular singers, Tony Bennett's muscular, burnished voice underscored the romance, the longing and the joy in the Great American songbook, as well as his own hits, which included "Because of You" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." A pop crooner in his early years, Bennett's devotion to jazz and standards spurred him to move away from the mainstream and dig deeply into the works of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and musical theater while collaborating with some of the great figures on the jazz scene, like the Count Basie Orchestra. His focus was not always in step with music buyers' tastes, and for years, he languished in obscurity, all the while honing his craft and his prodigious talent. With the help of his son Danny, he mounted a stunning comeback in the mid-1980s which saw him reaching younger audiences with the same music he had been performing since the 1950s. By staying out of the spotlight, he had become fresh and "alternative" all over again. Numerous Grammys and countless honors came his way, but the greatest gift Bennett received was the appreciation of his powerful and supple voice, which brought him the deserved status of living legend.
