Tony Bennett: The Resurgence of a Forgotten Jazz Star
The pop is a genre that predominates worldwide among adolescents whose musical idols are from the multi-faceted Lady Gaga to brazen Ke $ ha. However, styles such as jazz and R & B, of a more intellectual, have managed to prevail over time thanks to its constant renewal.
With modern icons such as Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr, Sara Leib and Diana Krall, jazz appreciation recently achieved that surpassed the barrier of the most exclusive circles, and Tony Bennet, one of the greatest artists of the past, recovering the lost fame 2011 thanks to “Duets II” album of duets is rescued from oblivion to a generation accustomed to artists, songs and endless unoriginal covers based on samples of previous decades.
The Early Years of Tony Bennett
Born August 3, 1926 in Astoria, located in Queens, New York, Anthony Dominick Benedetto started feeling attracted to music since childhood, inspired by Al Jolson, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. Italian roots, after passing through the Depression and lost his father at this stage, his first attempt as a performer was at the age of ten, to make a presentation at the opening of the Triborough Bridge in his hometown.
While he studied music and painting at the High School for Industrial Arts in the capital New York, ended up abandoning it at 16 to support his family (low income, consisting of his mother and two siblings), the working as a waiter. Two years later, the U.S. military would be convened for the sake of World War II service in the infantry.
At the end of the conflict, returned to the U.S. in 1946 and began his artistic training at the American Theatre Wing, using the GI Bill as a means to finance their studies.
The Early Pace of The Ballad
His talent would be discovered by the singer Pearl Bailey, who sang in Greenwich Village in 1949. Luck smiled again Benedetto, when invited by comedian Bob Hope to his show on tour. Even suggested to change the stage name Joe Bari (which used to enlist before the war) by Tony Bennett, direct simplify your real name.
Since then, Tony Bennett’s career began to take off, being hired by Columbia Records in 1950. “Because of You,” New York was consolidated in the field of the ballad, followed by more hits such as “Cold, Cold Heart”, “Blue Velvet”, “Rags to Riches” and “Stranger in Paradise”.
The Consecration as One of The Best Jazz Musicians of All Time
Compared to Frank Sinatra, the romantic style of Tony Bennett Popperism a change in 1957 gave the genre for which would be better known: jazz. The following year after his collaboration with Count Basie’s orchestra, at that time began to take shape as a jazz singer with the songs “Chicago”, “The Best is Yet to Come”, “I’ve Got the World on a String” and the multiplication “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
However, given the dizzying popularity of rock music from The Beatles and the British wave in the sixties, Bennett began a decline in popularity began with his refusal to record songs from rock and culminated in the seventies with his tempestuous exit Columbia Records.
Otherwise happened with his jazz artistry, founding the label Improv. They made two albums with pianist Bill Evans entitled “The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album” (1975) and “Together Again” (1976), currently considered essential works of both artists.
After overcoming addiction to drugs and retire ten years of recording studios, artist took up the lost time. He rejoined Columbia Records and in 1986 released “The Art of Excellence”, with which he began to regain the fame to the prevailing punk rock, new wave and disco music.
Thus, the name of Tony Bennett became an essential of jazz thanks to his vocal ability.
“Duets II”: the Latest Collaboration With Amy Winehouse
In 1990, Tony Bennett continued to offer unique personal style, evidenced in the tribute to Frank Sinatra with his colleague “Perfectly Frank” (1992), in live performance on “MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett” (1994) and first compilation of his classic duets as a performer, with the collaboration of artists like John Legend, George Michael, Celine Dion and Sting on “Duets: An American Classic” (2006).
The total recovery of the New York peaked in 2011, modern building with the album “Duets II”, the second compilation of his iconic songs. The first single, “Body and Souls”, duet performed with Amy Winehouse, meant not only the latest work by British singer before his death, but also the first record number of sales in Bennett’s career on the Billboard chart.
It is hoped that the success of “Duets II” is of similar magnitude in the rest of the world and also participate in this John Mayer, Michael Buble, Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones, Andrea Bocelli and Lady Gaga, among others.
Fame Recovered for Tony Bennett
With 50 million albums sold throughout his career, many Grammy to his credit and his 85-year-old Tony Bennett is one of the distant past and jazz reminiscent of the fifties. In addition to staying musically active, the blends with the paint, second career that has led to international exhibitions (his hobby goes back to his teens).
Recently, the artist was the subject of controversy for saying in a radio program on 20 September that the United States provoked the attack on the Twin Towers took place on September 11, 2001. The statement forced him to apologize the next day, in addition to emphasizing that there are no excuses for terrorism.
By having an interpretive vitality attributed to Bel canto, reason, said to Billboard, led him to preserve his voice, it seems that Tony Bennett will be here to stay, at least not yet.