Tony Bennett, the American jazz singer, passed away late last week. He was 96, just two days shy of his birthday.
A devotee to the Great American Songbook, Bennett was, perhaps, the last exponent of the mid-twentieth century crooner style of singing. Among his signature songs was, I Left My Heart in San Francisco. As styles changed with the rise of rock and roll, Bennett launched a spectacular comeback in the 1980s, and remained an enduring figure for the MTV generation.
Lost in the Stars
The 1959 album, In Person!, on which Bennett is accompanied by the Count Basie Orchestra, includes this magical performance of Lost in the Stars. With music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson, it was the title song for the 1949 Broadway musical.
The Party’s Over
An ode to New York City, Tony Bennett’s 1959 album, Hometown, My Town, concludes with this wistful ballad from the 1956 musical, Bells Are Ringing. The music is by Jule Styne and the lyrics are by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Steppin’ Out with My Baby
Here is Bennett’s iconic performance at the 1994 MTV Unplugged showcase. Irving Berlin’s song, sung by Fred Astaire in the 1948 film musical, Easter Parade, endures.
Recordings
- Tony Bennett’s complete discography
Featured Image: photograph by David Corio