Having a signed piece of Tony’s art is indeed more valuable than money. I did a similar thing when George Benson tried to pay me for organizing his wine cellar. I told him his friendship was worth more than any currency. Tony was a great man, and I’m glad you got to know him. I always loved his analogy that Count Basie was the earth, and Duke Ellington was the sky.
Thank you for that collection of songs. Immediately brought to mind my late mother-in-law, who must have seen Tony in Las Vegas three or four times in the 1960s. Whenever I hear "Yesterday I Heard the Rain" I think of her and my late wife. Ther mother-daughter relationship was anchored by their love of music. Diverse musical tastes for both—my mother-in-law from Bennett to the Eagles or Elton John. My wife was equally eclectic, just like Mom. Two great women forever intertwined with the splendor of performance that was Anthony Dominick Benedetto. Your story brought me smiles.
I had to wait on this one from Marc for a variety of reasons. Not least, the tears. I had seen Tony several times perform over the years, the last being at the Rosemont in Chicago in the late nineties. Ralph Sharon of course. Lucky close seating. They started at 8pm, and the crowd would not let them leave. They played until 1 in the morning, when Tony announced the managment and fire marshalls said no more. It was pure majic. I remember as last week. What a marvelous singer and human being. This was a great tribute. Thank you Marc.
I forgot one more thing: Richard Seidel has a weekly radio show on KCSM every Tuesday from 10 to 11 p.m. PST. He is also paying tribute to Tony Bennett with a two-part broadcast. The first part aired last Tuesday, and here is the link to listen to it. Richard Seidel has put together a great selection.
Great clips from Tony Bennett. I just saw them all. 👍
Here's one from me: Tony Bennett live in Berlin, May 26th, 1996. He was 69 years old then and in great form. I was in the audience and I remember it very clearly.
If I may, I’d like to draw attention to Marc’s "House Call". It’s brand new and features Gregory Peck’s grandson, actor Ethan Peck. For anyone with a Wall Street Journal subscription, here is the link - it’s well worth a look.
Back in 1968 I was in a Play Called "The Concept" we preformed it at what was then the Sheridan Square Playhouse and later called The Circle Rep Company.
After one performance Pear Bailey and Tony Bennett came over to me and said they wanted to take myself and another performer next door for Coffee.
How could we refuse. So we spent the next two hrs with them discussing the Concept and life itself. Pearl as You know was a dear friend of Tony's and wanted to help him through a difficult time he was having.
For me, a kid who grew up in the Bronx, it was really something else to be sitting with the two of them over coffee.
Frank Sinatra once said "Tony's the best (singer) in the business". If he didn't, I'll say it! Been a Tony Bennett fan since 1951. That's 75+ years. Will be as long as I am around. What a singer, what a talent. There is a 76-second version of Firefly with the Count Basie Band out there. I'd like to see anybody top that. Thank you for the tribute.
In the late 1990s, my late wife was terminally ill with cancer, but I knew she loved Tony Bennett, so I arranged for tickets to his show at the SunDome (and paid a little extra for front row seats).
I bundled her up in her wheelchair, and rolled her down to her seat.
Tony came out and looked at her during his performance. He walked off the stage with his microphone, came down, introduced himself, and kissed her hand. He then sang "If I Ruled the World" while holding her hand, and I thought Debbie was going to swoon...it was her favorite song of his.
My favorite song of his is "The Shadow Of Your Smile."
Having a signed piece of Tony’s art is indeed more valuable than money. I did a similar thing when George Benson tried to pay me for organizing his wine cellar. I told him his friendship was worth more than any currency. Tony was a great man, and I’m glad you got to know him. I always loved his analogy that Count Basie was the earth, and Duke Ellington was the sky.
Thank you for that collection of songs. Immediately brought to mind my late mother-in-law, who must have seen Tony in Las Vegas three or four times in the 1960s. Whenever I hear "Yesterday I Heard the Rain" I think of her and my late wife. Ther mother-daughter relationship was anchored by their love of music. Diverse musical tastes for both—my mother-in-law from Bennett to the Eagles or Elton John. My wife was equally eclectic, just like Mom. Two great women forever intertwined with the splendor of performance that was Anthony Dominick Benedetto. Your story brought me smiles.
Lovely email, Tom. Thanks.
I had to wait on this one from Marc for a variety of reasons. Not least, the tears. I had seen Tony several times perform over the years, the last being at the Rosemont in Chicago in the late nineties. Ralph Sharon of course. Lucky close seating. They started at 8pm, and the crowd would not let them leave. They played until 1 in the morning, when Tony announced the managment and fire marshalls said no more. It was pure majic. I remember as last week. What a marvelous singer and human being. This was a great tribute. Thank you Marc.
'The Way You Look Tonight' is about life; done movingly by a singer near the end of it, with extraordinary piano added. Anyone else in tears?
I forgot one more thing: Richard Seidel has a weekly radio show on KCSM every Tuesday from 10 to 11 p.m. PST. He is also paying tribute to Tony Bennett with a two-part broadcast. The first part aired last Tuesday, and here is the link to listen to it. Richard Seidel has put together a great selection.
https://spinitron.com/KCSM/pl/22790107/The-Jazz-Legacy
The second part is coming up tonight. But you can also listen to it again later.
Great clips from Tony Bennett. I just saw them all. 👍
Here's one from me: Tony Bennett live in Berlin, May 26th, 1996. He was 69 years old then and in great form. I was in the audience and I remember it very clearly.
https://youtu.be/6Pw-dw0TuoM?si=zZ3FSX9MUUAd988T
If I may, I’d like to draw attention to Marc’s "House Call". It’s brand new and features Gregory Peck’s grandson, actor Ethan Peck. For anyone with a Wall Street Journal subscription, here is the link - it’s well worth a look.
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/star-trek-co-star-ethan-peck-on-his-spock-role-and-grandfather-gregory-peck-7cbb1ace?mod=Searchresults&pos=1&page=1
Marc
Great Clips of Tony Bennett.
Back in 1968 I was in a Play Called "The Concept" we preformed it at what was then the Sheridan Square Playhouse and later called The Circle Rep Company.
After one performance Pear Bailey and Tony Bennett came over to me and said they wanted to take myself and another performer next door for Coffee.
How could we refuse. So we spent the next two hrs with them discussing the Concept and life itself. Pearl as You know was a dear friend of Tony's and wanted to help him through a difficult time he was having.
For me, a kid who grew up in the Bronx, it was really something else to be sitting with the two of them over coffee.
Frank Sinatra once said "Tony's the best (singer) in the business". If he didn't, I'll say it! Been a Tony Bennett fan since 1951. That's 75+ years. Will be as long as I am around. What a singer, what a talent. There is a 76-second version of Firefly with the Count Basie Band out there. I'd like to see anybody top that. Thank you for the tribute.
In the late 1990s, my late wife was terminally ill with cancer, but I knew she loved Tony Bennett, so I arranged for tickets to his show at the SunDome (and paid a little extra for front row seats).
I bundled her up in her wheelchair, and rolled her down to her seat.
Tony came out and looked at her during his performance. He walked off the stage with his microphone, came down, introduced himself, and kissed her hand. He then sang "If I Ruled the World" while holding her hand, and I thought Debbie was going to swoon...it was her favorite song of his.
My favorite song of his is "The Shadow Of Your Smile."
That was Tony. My condolences, John.
Debbie’s been gone longer than we were married, which might sound cold, but the fond memories are still there.
I appreciate the thoughts, though.