To mark Tony's 95th birthday 'If I Ruled The World' from Pickwick
Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born on 3rd August 1926 in Queens, New York. Tony developed a love of music by listening to Bing, Louis and many others on the radio. He sang as he waited on tables as a teenager. He was an infantryman during WW2 and sang with the military bands.
After the war he got work at the Shangri-La in Astoria, In 1949 he was noticed by Bob Hope while performing with Pearl Bailey, Bob came backstae and told him he wanted Tony, or Joe Bari as he was performing as, to move to the Paramount in Bob's show. He wasn't a fan of the name so asked him for his real name, Bob thought and said "We'll call you Tony Bennett".
Tony signed for Columbia in 1950 and his first hit was 'Because Of You' in 1951 followed up by 'Cold, Cold Heart' both #1 hits in the US.
Tony has been performing around the world to this day in fact tonight 3rd August 2021 he takes to the Radio City Music Hall stage with Lady Gaga and another show on the 5th.
After his recording of the 'Cheek To Cheek' album with Lady Gaga and a world tour in 016 it was found he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Tony and Lady have recorded a follow up album to 'Cheek To Cheek' since that diagnosis. He has twice weekly singing practice which have helped his condition and in June he recorded an MTV Unplugged show.
At the start of every show a recording of Frank Sinatra introduces him " For My Money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the Business. He excites me when I watch him, he moves me"
A very happy 95th birthday to one of the all time greats Mr Tony Bennett.

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