Legendary Tony Bennett Passes Away at 96 in Las Vegas
Tony Bennett, the talented singer known for his interpretation of American standards, sadly passed away on Friday at the age of 96. Although the cause of his death has not been revealed, his family had previously shared his battle with Alzheimer's disease in 2021.
Las Vegas may come after New York and San Francisco when it comes to claiming Bennett, but the standard-bearer of cool class performed on the Strip numerous times, starting from 1952 at El Rancho Vegas, where he shared the stage with dancer Samia Gamal. He went on to perform at the Venetian Theater on September 25, 26, and 28 of 2019.
The most renowned Las Vegas engagement for Bennett was in 1964, at the Copa Room, which led to the release of his live album "Tony Bennett – Live at the Sahara."
From Humble Beginnings
Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, he was the son of Italian immigrants in New York City. His father was a grocer and his mother a seamstress. Sadly, his father passed away when he was just 10 years old. This left his mother to raise their three children.
As a young boy, Bennett grew up listening to iconic performers like Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Judy Garland, and Bing Crosby. He started his career as an interpreter of pop tunes, similar to these legends.
Comedian Bob Hope discovered Bennett in a Greenwich Village nightclub in 1949 and invited the singer to tour with him under one condition: changing his name to Tony Bennett. The singer agreed.
Bennett was swiftly signed by Columbia Records, who released his first hit, "Because of You." The track spent 10 weeks at the top of the pop charts in 1951. This success was soon followed by a similar rendition of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart."
In 1962, Bennett recorded his musical signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." This little-known ditty composed in the late 1950s for an opera singer became a career-defining track for him. From there, he amassed 20 Grammy Awards and sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
Similarities to Sinatra
"For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business," Frank Sinatra told Life magazine in 1965. "He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He's the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more."
While Bennett often sang with Sinatra and Dean Martin, he was never a part of the Rat Pack. This was because he never mixed with their Hollywood friends and also stood strong on his own pedestal.
Similar to Sinatra, Bennett's life had its own brushes with the Las Vegas mob. In a 2012 interview, Bennett biographer David Evanier told the New York Daily News that Bennett dated the girlfriend of Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro in 1979. This came during a challenging period in Bennett's career and personal life. Bennett was separated from his second wife, Sandra Grant, at the time.
Spilotro, a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit, was linked to 22-25 murders by the FBI, and was portrayed by Joe Pesci in the movie "Casino." Evanier believes that Bennett was caught in the crossfire and was attacked by Spilotro.
The alleged incident most likely took place while Bennett performed with Lena Horne at the Sahara. This incident did not make it into Evanier's 2011 unauthorized biography, "All the Things You Are: The Life of Tony Bennett," as he only discovered it later.
Overcoming Adversity
Following a near-fatal cocaine overdose in 1979, Bennett sought treatment. Wanting to revive his career, he then asked his sons, Danny and Dae, for help. They realized their capabilities were more suited to business matters than Bennett's.
Danny took it upon himself to become his father's manager. This allowed Bennett to get a handle on his finances and move back to New York to reinvent himself.
Danny's strategic efforts paid off, as Bennett staged a stunning comeback in the late 1980s that lasted until his death. Although Bennett maintained his musical style, he also reached out to younger generations by collaborating with singers like Carrie Underwood, Amy Winehouse, and most notably, Lady Gaga. Gaga first collaborated with Bennett on his 2011 album, "Duets II."
Bennett's last performances took place in 2021, when he teamed up with Gaga for a pair of concerts at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
The standard-bearer of cool class may be gone, but his musical legacy lives on. Then, life, which Sinatra famously once praised Bennett as a singer who "excit[ed] me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind," speaks to Bennett's lasting influence. His music will be remembered by generations to come.
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Source: www.casino.org
