“If you follow your passion, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
100 years ago on August 3, one of the world’s most prolific singers was born. Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto born on August 3, 1926 in Long Island City, Queens, New York, the artist known as Tony Bennett began singing at a young age before he was drafted to fight during World War II. After the war, he signed a deal with Columbia Records and released his debut album, Because of You, in 1952.
In his lifetime, Bennett recorded over 60 studio albums and 11 live albums including Cloud 7 (1955), Basie/Bennett (1959), My Heart Sings (1961), Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues (2001), Cheek to Cheek (2014) and his final album Love for Sale, his second duet album with Lady Gaga.
JAZZ.FM91 was fortunate to have a nice relationship with Mr. Bennett, who performed at our fundraising concert at the Liberty Grand back in 2016. An avid painter, he even donated his own artwork for our fundraising efforts.
In honour of his Centennial, JAZZ.FM91 hosts took some time to share their favourite recordings and memories, reflecting on the impact he left behind and why his music still matters today.
Jeff Chalmers’ Pick: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (1962)
Back in the golden days of radio, DJ’s were more than more than motor-mouthed on-air personalities; they were music curators. Oftentimes, when a single issued by the record label failed to resonate, it wasn’t unusual for announcers to go as far as playing the other side of the 45, the B-side. Well documented examples of such a thing include now-classics, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Be-Bop-A-Lula” by Gene Vincent and “Beth” by Kiss. These tunes might never have become hits otherwise. “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” is yet another example. In fact, the tune penned by George Cory and Douglass Cross had rather inauspicious beginnings. Written in 1954, the song was originally offered to someone named Claramae Turner, who often used it as an encore, but never got around to actually recording it. The sheet music ended up in the hands of Tony Bennett’s drummer, Ralph Sharon, who slipped it into a shirt drawer of all places, and only discovered it in preparation for a tour seven years later.
First played live by Bennett and the band during a gig on that very tour in December of 1961 at the Venetian Room inside the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, legend has it that that while practicing the song on a later tour stop in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a local bartender overheard them and remarked, “If you record that, I’ll buy the first copy.” After a couple of changes to the lyrics (with the inclusion of fog and cable cars and stuff), the song was recorded on January 23, 1962, and released on Columbia Records the following month. As a B-side. Radio DJ’s across America ignored the designated ‘single,’ a track called “Once Upon a Time,” and instead spun the other side…and a massive hit was born. Here’s to 100 years of Tony Bennett…on the other side. – Jeff Chalmers, Afternoon Drive
Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Heather Bambrick’s pick: “But Beautiful” (1975)
I think it was back in 2009 that Tony Bennett was performing as part of the Toronto Jazz Festival and I was invited to introduce him. At the time, his daughter Antonia was his opening act, so I was told I could speak about Tony, but I would actually welcome his daughter to the stage. I remember spending quite a bit of time working on the introduction to make it (a) concise and (b) demonstrative of the respect and admiration I had for Tony. At the same time, I couldn’t wax too poetic, as I was about to bring someone else onto the stage. Armed with what I felt was an appropriate introduction, I headed to the mic at centre stage and did my thing. As I was exiting the stage and Antonia and the band were entering, I heard a soft voice call out from the darkness side stage, saying: “Thank you for that wonderful introduction. I very much appreciated that.” The unmistakable voice, with its subtle rasp, was that of Tony Bennett. Turns out, he liked to sit in the wings during his introductions and then take in Antonia’s set. I called back into the darkness of the stage right wings, saying: “Thank YOU, Mr. Bennett. It’s an honour to introduce you. Have a great show.” (And, a great show it was!!)
Most recently, there was the morning he left us … upon hearing the news of Tony’s passing, I began to write a tribute … something befitting the man that meant so much to so many and had been such a big part of JAZZ.FM91, performing for our donors, giving us some of his personal memorabilia to raise funds for the station, etc. I scanned the massive library of his tunes, trying to find something appropriate to play. I chose “But Beautiful” from the Tony Bennett /Bill Evans album, which has always been one of my favourites. As the piano strings rang out the final chord, I turned on the mic and said “The incredible Tony Bennett .. ‘But Beautiful’ … ” and that’s when it hit me: the voice that had been such a part of so many people’s lives would now be silenced. Dementia didn’t take the music away from him. Illness didn’t take the music away from him. But his passing would take any new music away from us. And with that, I started to cry live on air. That reaction was what made me truly feel how much he meant to me and so many others. – Heather Bambrick, Wake Up!
Tony Bennett & Bill Evans - But Beautiful
Dani Elwell’s pick: “Some Other Time” (1975)
The connection between Tony and JAZZ.FM91 was always a deep one. In case you weren’t aware, Tony came to do a special fundraising concert at the Liberty Grand for us back in 2016. He additionally agreed to interviews and two years before his passing, he thoughtfully sent us a couple of his very own paint brushes for, again, our fundraising efforts. Tony was a wonderful painter. You can still view some of his works of art, specifically of Toronto, up on his website. It has always been a dream of mine to own one of his paintings.
If I had to choose one song, and it’s a daunting task, I would choose his recording of “Some Other Time” with Bill Evans. Their intimate collaborations are legendary and in listening to it lyrically now, it’s so bittersweet. Bill’s nod to his own composition “Peace Piece” at the beginning of the tune is a thoughtful touch. Wherever beautiful place Tony Bennett is right now, I know his voice is warm and inviting, just as it was here on earth.- Dani Elwell, Voice Tracks
Tony Bennett & Bill Evans - Some Other Time
Danny Marks’ pick: “I’ll Be Seeing You” (1957)
Tony Bennett was an artist for all seasons. The warmth of his voice was matched by his artwork, his elegant style, and his unforgettable smile. A self-made singer who learned his craft in the saloons, he reached the pop charts before the term “Smooth Jazz” existed. Songs like “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” still carry his signature blend of sentiment and nostalgia. He made history too: longest span of top-10 Billboard 200 albums for a living artist, Guinness World Record for oldest person to release an album of new material at 95 years, 60 days, and in 1951 the first jazz singer to take a country song, “Cold, Cold Heart,” into the top 10. Tony Bennett was a man for all seasons, and for all time. – Danny Marks, BLUZ.FM and Beyond the Fringe
Tony Bennett - Cold, Cold Heart
John Devenish’s pick: “My Foolish Heart” (1975)
I’m never, ever lonely when I’m listening to Tony Bennett. There is something immediately right there with you in the warmth of his voice. He gets in your company while you’re in his. It is a kind of embrace, a conversation, as if you are in the midst of a good meal or have set a bit for a lingering coffee or snack. Bennett is your friend. Friendship with a smile, and any and every emotion gesture is just right. A “just right” that is right there where you can feel it. There is a bit of did I tell you this? or what do you think about that? in every phrase. It’s the easiest of conversations. Every single note is a complete romance. Love, joy, sorrow, melancholy, introspection, celebration, recollection, inspiration, and love all over again. Thank you, Tony. I’m never, ever lonely when I’m listening. – John Devenish, Dinner Jazz