Tony Bennet

Tony Bennett’s life and philosophy is the embodiment of the Great American Story. Having celebrated his 90th birthday on August 3rd 2016, his career as the pre-eminent singer of the 20th and 21st centuries is unprecedented. He continues to be embraced and loved by audiences of all generations.

Born in Queens in 1926, Tony's father died at age 10, leaving his mom to raise he and his two other siblings. He attended the High School of Industrial Arts in Manhattan, where he nurtured his two passions: singing and painting. As a teenager, Tony sang while waiting on tables and then enlisted in the Army during World War II and while in Europe he performed with military bands. He later had vocal studies at the American Theatre Wing School. The first time Bennett sang in a nightclub was in 1946 when he sat in with trombonist Tyree Glenn. Bennett’s big break came in 1949 when comedian Bob Hope noticed him working with Pearl Bailey in Greenwich Village in New York City.

With millions of records sold world-wide and platinum and gold albums to his credit, stretching over 7 decades, Bennett has received nineteen Grammy Awards—including a 1995 Grammy for Record of the Year and the Grammy Lifetime Award.