With a casual listen of Tony Bennett’s works, one thing is clear: as the world’s most boyish octogenarian, his legendary voice and charming stage presence have touched the hearts and souls of audiences. Winning an impressive 17 Grammy Awards and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, this evergreen artist has been described as “the epitome of what entertainers were put on earth for” by none other than the legendary Judy Garland.
His signature tunes, such as “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” and “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” are part of the fabric of American music culture. To celebrate his 85th birthday in 2011, he released Duets II, making music history by being the oldest artist to ever have a #1 CD on the Billboard album charts.
However, Tony Bennett is not just a pretty voice. The musical maestro is also a talented painter. He has exhibited his work in galleries around the world, and three of his original paintings are part of the permanent collection in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.
He has also put his heart and time into supporting humanitarian concerns, such as joining Dr. Martin Luther King in the historic Selma march in 1965. His many charitable works include raising millions for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and lending his artwork to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Together with his wife, he established the charitable organization, Exploring The Arts (ETA) to support arts education in public high school and founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in his hometown of Astoria, Queens.
Bennett’s talent also runs in his family. His daughter, Antonia Bennett, has been touring with her father and will open for him when he performs at The Centre on October 30 with a collection of jazz/pop standards. If you like a night where you can put your troubles aside and enjoy his soothing, suave voice, then you won’t want to miss out.
Tony Bennett performs at The Centre on October 30.