By Mabel Pais
| Bennett & Krall Reincarnate Gershwin Classics,
Tony Bennett Celebrates his 92ndBirthday “No one expected me to compose music. I just did. What I have done is what was in me; the combination of New York, where I was born, and the rising, exhilarating rhythm of it, with centuries of hereditary feeling back of me.” – George Gershwin, 1926 At 92, TONY BENNETTis not slowing down. Tony’s newest album, a collaborative project with longtime-friend-and-colleague Diana Krall, is their 1stfull album project together. The album titled, LOVE IS HERE TO STAY, released on September 14, 2018 celebrates the music of the brothers and composer-collaborators George and Ira Gershwin on Verve Records/Columbia Records just in time for the 120thAnniversary of George Gershwin’s birthday, September 26th. On the same day, a new book, TONY BENNETT: ON STAGE AND IN THE STUDIO, has been released. It provides an insightful look into Tony’s illustrious recording career highlighted by an extensive array of photographs, memorabilia, and artwork. Tony Bennett’s recent album, Tony Bennett Celebrates 90, won a Grammy Award this past February for his son Dae Bennett who produced the album. Bennett also appeared on the 60thAnniversary Grammy Awards telecast and presented an award with John Legend, who sang with Tony on the 2006 Tony Bennett: DUETS recording. This past November, the Library Of Congress presented Bennett with The Gershwin Prize marking the first time that an interpretive singer has been honored. The event was broadcast on PBS Nationally last January and featured tribute performances by Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Gloria Estefan and many others. His signature song, I Left My Heart In San Francisco, was inducted this year in the National Recordings Registry. His long list of achievements, spanning over 60 years, includes nineteen Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honoree, an NEA Jazz Master and a recipient of the United Nation’s Humanitarian and Citizen of the World honors. His signature tunes, such as Steppin’ Out With My Babyand I Left My Heart In San Franciscoform part of the fabric of American music culture. Often billed as the world’s most boyish octogenarian, TONY BENNETT is a vital musical artist at the peak of his powers. To learn more about Diana Krall, visit www.dianakrall.com Facebook: https://Verve.lnk.to/DianaFBPR Twitter: https://Verve.lnk.to/DianaTwitterPR Instagram: https://Verve.lnk.to/DianaIGPR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY: TRACK LISTING
For more information on the Gershwins, visit: www.gershwin.com To learn more about Verve, visit www.vervelabelgroup.com To learn more about Columbia Records, visit www.columbiarecords.com
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“We aren’t likely to see a recording career like this again.”
– The New York Times
“….his voice is still a technical marvel, and no one else on Earth can make a lyric written eight decades ago sound as natural as a conversation at a coffee shop.”
– New York Magazine
“Ageless” TONY BENNETT, as he has been called, the 19-time Grammy Award-winning musician whose music spans over six decades returns once again to The New Jersey Performing Art Center (NJPAC) via Metropolitan Entertainment and NJPAC on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 8pm. Bennettreturns, having sold out previous concerts at NJPAC.
Tony Bennett’s daughter, Antonia Bennett has been touring with her father and will open the performance with a collection of jazz/pop standards. Antonia Bennett is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Photo / Courtesy, www.AntoniaBennett.com
About Tony Bennett:
Tony Bennett’s Life and Philosophy is the embodiment of the Great American Story. His 90thbirthday on August 3, 2016, unprecedented, marked his career as the pre-eminent singer of the 20thand 21stcenturies. He continues to be embraced and loved by audiences of all generations.In the last ten years alone he has sold ten million records.
Through his dedication to excellenceand his insistence on quality, he has become the keeper of the flame by extolling the virtues and values represented by the Great American Songbook.
His love for his country has earned him the distinction of national treasure and United Nations has named him a Citizen of the World as one of their foremost ambassadors.
Through his music,His life story is compelling in the lessons and values that it teaches: dedication, commitment, courage, and compassion.
The essence of his longevity and high artistic achievement was imbued in him in his loving childhood home in Astoria, Queens, New York where he was born on August 3, 1926 and nurtured his two passions: singing and painting. From the radio, he developed a love of music hearing Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and James Durante.
Bennett’s big break came in 1949 when comedian Bob Hope noticed him working with Pearl Bailey in Greenwich Village in New York City. “‘We’ll call you Tony Bennett,” said Bob Hope.
Tony Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums charting in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and now in the first two decades of the 21stcentury. He has introduced a multitude of songs into the Great American Songbook that have since become standards for pop music.
On August 3rd 2016, Tony Bennett celebrated his 90thbirthday which was marked by the lighting of the Empire State Building in honor of his musical legacy along with a star-studded celebration at the famed Rainbow Room. Later that year NBC aired a two-hour prime time special, TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90: THE BEST IS YET TO COMEwhich featured performances by Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Michael Buble and many more. Columbia Records released a Grammy-winning companion CD to the television special, and Tony’s fifth book, Just Getting Startedwas published.
Photo / Courtesy, www.TonyBennett.com
He continues to paint every day, even as he tours internationally. Three of his paintings are part of the Smithsonian Museums permanent collections including his portrait of his friend Duke Ellington that became part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection in 2009.
Throughout his career, Tony Bennett has been active in environmental concerns and social justice.
In 1999, Tony Bennett, with his wife Susan Benedetto, a former public school teacher, founded Exploring the Arts (ETA) to strengthen the role of the arts in public high school education. ETA programs are designed to help school principals and teachers sustain the arts in the face of budget cuts and better leverage the arts to strengthen student learning and engagement.
To learn more about Tony Bennett, visit www.tonybennett.com.
Facebook: https://Verve.lnk.to/TonyFBPR
Twitter: https://Verve.lnk.to/TonyTwitterPR
Instagram: https://Verve.lnk.to/TonyIGPR
Listen to Fascinating Rhythm released on all digital platforms: https://Verve.lnk.to/FascinatingRhythmPR
Pre-Order LOVE IS HERE TO STAYNOW: https://Verve.lnk.to/LoveIsHereToStayPR
For more information on the Tony Bennett concert at NJPAC or for Tickets, go to the event link at https://www.njpac.org/events/detail/tony-bennett-2018
Tickets are also available in person at the NJPAC Box Office or by phone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722).
As a special offer, a CD or digital download of Love Is Here To Stay,is included with every ticket purchase.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
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