2. Music producer Bruce Furst has had multiple successes,
particularly a number-one-selling Christmas CD for the
BMG label. Among the artists Bruce Furst gathered
together was Tony Bennett.
Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in 1926, Bennett went
to the American Theatre Wing for vocal and acting
instruction. He was discovered in Greenwich Village by
Pearl Bailey and later joined Bob Hope's road show. On
Hope's advice, he adopted the name Tony Bennett.
In 1950, Columbia Records signed Bennett, who released
several hits, notably “Stranger in Paradise” and “Because of
You.” Bennett's most well-known song, “I Left My Heart in
San Francisco,” was recorded in 1962, winning him his first
Grammy award.
3. He and Columbia had substantial artistic differences.
Bennett wanted to cover new material, but the label
wanted more songs in his old standards style. They
compromised on recording half of each category.
Eventually, Columbia insisted on nothing but pop hits.
Bennett and Columbia parted ways. His sales had been
sliding due to the prevalence of rock and roll. He stopped
recording for about 10 years.
Danny, his son and manager, remedied the situation by
booking Bennett on the Jay Leno and David Letterman
shows. An appearance on MTV Unplugged won him fans
from younger generations. Bennett capitalized on his new
popularity by making tribute albums of songs by Irving
Berlin, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.
4. After his 80th birthday in 2006, Bennett focused
on duets with other singers, such as Barbra
Streisand, Elvis Costello, Sting, and Queen
Latifah. Those successes allowed him to release a
similar project in 2011. The next year, Bennett
made an album of Latin American songs in
Portuguese, Spanish, and English. In 2014, Lady
Gaga and Bennett collaborated on a disc of jazz
tunes called Cheek to Cheek.
Bennett credits the longevity of his career with
his use of bel canto singing, which emphasizes
breathing and does not erode the voice.
