Program Notes for Tony Bennett

PROGRAM Tony Bennett (Selections to be announced from the stage.)

San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear as part of this program.

TONY BENNETT

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 | 7:30PM

TONY BENNETT vocalist Tony Bennett piano Billy Stritch guitar Gray Sargent drums Harold Jones bass Marshall Wood

Performance at Embarcadero Marina Park South

In 1999, Tony Bennett, with his wife Susan Benedetto, a former public school teacher, founded Exploring the Arts (ETA) to strengthen the role of the arts in public high school education. ETA connects private funders, individual artists and cultural institutions to Partner Schools to achieve greater equality of resources and opportunity for youth of all means and backgrounds. ETA programs are designed to help school principals and teachers sustain the arts in the face of budget cuts and to better leverage the arts to strengthen student learning and engagement. ETA’s first endeavor was the establishment of Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA), a public high school founded in 2001 by Tony and Susan in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. $1 from every ticket sold for tonight’s concert goes to benefit ETA.

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TONY BENNETT – AUGUST 15 | PROGRAM NOTES

ABOUT THE ARTIST

No one in popular American music has recorded for so long and

TONY BENNETT's life and philosophy is the embodiment of the

his longevity and high artistic achievement was imbued in him

Great American Story. Having just celebrated his 91st birthday

in his loving childhood home in the Astoria section of Queens

on August 3rd, 2017, his career as the pre-eminent singer of

where he was born on August 3, 1926. His father died when Tony

the 20th and 21st centuries is unprecedented. He continues

was ten. His mother, Anna, raised Tony and his older brother and

to be embraced and loved by audiences of all generations. The

sister, John and Mary, in a home surrounded by loving relatives

milestone was marked by the presentation of Tony Bennett

who were Tony’s first fans, filling him with encouragement and

Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come, a two-hour prime time

optimism. He attended the High School of Industrial Arts in

special that aired last December. A companion CD of the same

Manhattan, where he continued nurturing his two passions,

name was released simultaneously. Last fall also saw the release

singing and painting. From the radio he developed a love of

of Bennett’s fifth book, Just Getting Started, which he co-

music hearing Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong and James Durante.

authored with NPR journalist Scott Simon.

at such a high level of excellence as Tony Bennett. In the last ten years alone he has sold ten million records. The essence of

As a teenager Tony sang while waiting on tables and then

Through his dedication to excellence and his insistence on

enlisted in the Army during World War II, while in Europe he

quality, Tony Bennett has become the keeper of the flame

performed with military bands. He later had vocal studies at the

by extolling the virtues and values represented by the Great

American Theatre Wing School. The first time Bennett sang in

American Songbook. Bennett has been on the front lines of

a nightclub was in 1946 when he sat in with trombonist Tyree

every major issue impacting the cornerstones of this country's

Glenn at the Shangri-La in Astoria. Bennett’s big break came in

modern history. He has performed for 11 U.S. Presidents, is

1949 when comedian Bob Hope noticed him working with Pearl

a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge

Bailey in Greenwich Village in New York City. As Bennett recalls,

and participated in the liberation of a concentration camp.

“Bob Hope came down to check out my act. He liked my singing

He marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma

so much that after the show he came back to see me in my

to support civil rights. Throughout his life, Tony Bennett

dressing room and said, 'Come on kid, you’re going to come to

has been a dedicated pacifist and proactive humanitarian

the Paramount and sing with me.' But first he told me he didn’t

selflessly supporting many causes whose goals benefit the

care for my stage name (Joe Bari) and asked me what my real

lives of millions. His love for his country has earned him the

name was. I told him, ‘My name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto’

distinction of national treasure, and the United Nations has

and he said, ‘We’ll call you Tony Bennett.’ And that’s how it

named him a Citizen of the World as one of their foremost

happened. A new Americanized name – the start of a wonderful

ambassadors. Through his music, Tony Bennett has connected

career and a glorious adventure that has continued for over

in unprecedented fashion with all generations of audiences. His

60 years.”

commitment to humanitarian ideals has bridged our differences by highlighting what we have in common as citizens of the planet. He has fought for the hard issues when others have turned a blind eye and has remained true to the authenticity and creativity of his musical vision. Tony has achieved the Great American Dream but has never forgotten his own roots, and is constantly working toward ensuring that others can achieve their dreams as well. His life story is compelling in the lessons and values that it teaches: dedication, commitment, courage and compassion.

With millions of records sold world-wide and platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett has received nineteen Grammy® Awards – including a 1995 Grammy® for Record of the Year for his MTV Unplugged CD which introduced this American master to a whole new generation – and the Grammy® Lifetime Award.

His initial successes came via a string of Columbia singles in the early 1950s, including such chart-toppers as “Because of You," "Rags to Riches" and a remake of Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart.” He had 24 songs in the Top 40, including “I Wanna Be Around," “The Good Life," “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” and his signature song, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” which garnered him two Grammy® Awards.

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TONY BENNETT – AUGUST 15 | PROGRAM NOTES Tony Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums

To Cheek won a Grammy® in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal

charting in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and now in the first two

category while Bennett’s 2015 release, The Silver Lining: The

decades of the 21st century. He has introduced a multitude

Songs of Jerome Kern won a Grammy® for Best Traditional Pop

of songs into the Great American Songbook that have since

Vocal album.

become standards for pop music. He has toured the world to sold out audiences with rave reviews whenever he performs.

Tony Bennett became a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005, was

Bennett re-signed with Columbia Records in 1986 and released

named an NEA Jazz Master in January of 2006, a Citizen of the

the critically acclaimed The Art of Excellence. Since his 1991

World award from the United Nations and a Billboard Magazine

show-stopping performance at the Grammy® Awards of

Century Award in honor of his outstanding contributions

“When Do the Bells Ring for Me" from his Astoria album, he has

to music.

received a string of Grammy® Awards for releases including Stepping Out, Perfectly Frank and MTV Unplugged.

Tony Bennett is a dedicated painter whose interest in art began as a child. He continues to paint every day, even as he tours

In the new millennium, Bennett’s artistry and popularity were

internationally. He has exhibited his work in galleries around

higher than ever. In 2006, the year of his 80th birthday, his

the world. The United Nations has commissioned him for two

Duets: An American Classic was released. The album – which

paintings, including one for their 50th anniversary. His original

included performances with Paul McCartney, Elton John,

painting, “Homage to Hockney,” is on permanent display at the

Barbra Streisand, Bono and others – won three Grammy®

Butler Institute of American Art; the landmark National Arts

Awards and went on to be one of the best selling CDs of the

Club in New York is home to Tony’s painting “Boy on Sailboat,

year and Tony’s career. Bennett’s first Duets album also inspired

Sydney Bay.” Three of his paintings are part of the Smithsonian

the Rob Marshall-directed television special Tony Bennett: An

Museums’ permanent collections, including his portrait of his

American Classic, which won seven Emmys® making it the most

friend Duke Ellington that became part of the National Portrait

honored program at the 2007 Emmy® Awards. In celebration

Gallery’s collection in 2009.

of his 85th birthday in 2011, the release of Bennett’s highly anticipated Duets II featured Tony performing with a new roster

Throughout his career, Tony Bennett has always put his heart

of celebrated artists, including the late Amy Winehouse (her last

and time into humanitarian concerns. He has raised millions of

recording was their duet of “Body and Soul”), Michael Buble,

dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, which established

Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, Lady Gaga, John Mayer and

a research fund in his name. His original paintings each year

many others. Duets II debuted at number one on the Billboard

grace the cover of the American Cancer Society’s annual

album charts, making Tony the only artist at the age of 85 to

holiday greeting card, proceeds from which are earmarked for

achieve this in the history of recorded music. Bennett won two

cancer research. He is active in environmental concerns and

Grammys® for Duets II in the 2012 Grammy® ceremony, and

social justice. He marched with Dr. King in the historical Selma

this year marked the 50th anniversary of the recording and

to Montgomery Civil Rights movement; the Martin Luther

release of his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

King Center in Atlanta also bestowed upon him their “Salute to

A documentary entitled The Zen of Bennett, which was created

Greatness Award” for his efforts in fighting

and conceived by Danny Bennett, Tony’s son and manager,

racial discrimination. n

was premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2012. At the end of 2012 Bennett also authored his fourth book, the New York Times bestseller Life is a Gift, which highlights his personal philosophies learned throughout his life and career. Tony’s collaborative jazz album with Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek (released in 2014), debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 album charts, making Bennett, at the age of 88, the oldest artist to have a number one album… breaking his own previously established historical record. Cheek

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