Anthony Dominic Benedetto, better known as Tony Bennett, was born on August 3, 1926 in New York. The family did not live in luxury - the father worked as a grocer, and the mother was engaged in raising children.
Childhood of Tony Bennett
When Tony was 10 years old, his father passed away. The loss of the only breadwinner shook the fortunes of the Benedetto family. Anthony's mom went to work as a seamstress.
During this difficult time, Anthony began his musical career. Uncle Tony worked as a tap dancer in vaudeville. He helped the boy "break through" into the ranks of musicians in local bars.
A beautiful voice and enthusiasm allowed young Tony to earn. He even performed at the opening ceremony of the new bridge. Anthony stood next to the mayor of the city.
Love for music has always reigned in the house. Anthony's older brother sang in a famous choir, and his parents put on daily records of Frank Sinatra, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby.
Hobbies of a young man
In addition to singing, Tony Bennett was interested in drawing. It was this art form that he chose as a profile for training. The boy entered the Higher School of Applied Arts, where he studied for only two years. He realized that his vocation was not an easel, but a stage.
Bennett dropped out of school, but not only because of the desire to sing, but also for the sake of the family. He took a job as a waiter in an Italian restaurant to support his mother. In his spare time, Tony Bennett performed on amateur music shows.
Artist's Path to Musical Fame
Anthony grew up against the backdrop of World War II. Tony was distinguished by pacifist views, bloodshed was not at all close to him. However, he knew about his duty, so in 1944, when he turned 18, he put on a military uniform and went to the front. Tony got into the infantry. The young man fought in France and Germany. At the front, Bennett got a job in a military band, where he was able to show his talents.
In 1946, when Anthony returned home, he was determined to develop a musical career. He entered the professional vocal school at the American Theater Wing.
The first place of work as a vocalist was a cafe in the Astoria hotel. Here he was paid a little, so the guy also worked as an elevator operator at the institution.
Anthony understood that the singer needed a capacious and memorable name. He chose the pseudonym Joe Bari. With him, he performed on stage, attended TV shows, even sang in a duet with famous performers. Anthony's career developed. By the end of the 1940s, he already felt confident as a musician, even hiring his own manager.
A gift of fate was Anthony's acquaintance with comedian Bob Hope. The famous actor noticed Tony's talent at one of his opening performances for Pearl Bailey. Bob invited Tony to his variety show. With his filing in 1950, Anthony changed his pseudonym to Tony Bennett.
Under this name, he recorded a demo version of Boulevard of Broken Dreams and gave it to the director of Columbia Records. He started releasing hits. His ballad Because of You topped the US charts.
Decreased popularity of Tony Bennett
The end of the 1960s was characterized by a change in the musical era. Rock musicians began to occupy the leading positions of all charts. In 1968, his album Snowfall / The Tony Bennett Christmas Album reached number 10 for the last time.
Tony Bennett, with the permission of the management of the recording studio, tried himself in a new genre. He recorded contemporary pop rock. However, the experiment was not successful. Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today! hit only the second hundred pop albums.
In 1972, Tony Bennett left the Columbia label. The unsuccessful experience of cooperation with other producers forced Tony to open his own recording company Improv. The company lasted less than 5 years, closing due to financial problems.
By this time, the 50-year-old artist needed no introduction. He collected full halls of "fans" without hitting the top radio stations. At this time, Bennett returned to his youthful passion - painting. In 1977, Bennett opened his first solo art exhibition in Chicago, and two years later in London.
A new round in the career of Tony Bennett
In the 1980s, the number of new releases greatly decreased. Listeners began to return to the good old pop music with elements of jazz. In 1986, Bennett renewed his collaboration with the Columbia label and produced the pop standards album The Art of Excellence.
He dedicated his songs to jazz singer Mabel Mercer. For the first time in 10 years, Tony Bennett hit the charts again. Anthony started making albums again.
In 1994, Bennett received two awards at the Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocalist. In this category at the Grammy Awards, Bennett won four more times.
Tony Bennett: family life
Anthony Benedetto has been married three times. His first wife was Patricia Beach in 1952. The lovers met at a concert in a club. The couple played the wedding two months after they met. The couple lived together for 19 years, raising two sons: Dae and Danny.
The marriage fell apart due to Tony's new romance. Immediately after his divorce from Patricia, Bennett married Sandra Grant. They lived until 2007. Sandra gave birth to Tony's daughters: Antonia and Joanna. Tony entered into a new marriage with a former social studies teacher Susan Crow. They still live together but have no children.
Tony Bennett in an interview said that one life is not enough for him to realize all his dreams. It remains only to wait for new creative creations of the musician.
