THOMPSON: Remembering legendary crooner Tony Bennett

OPINION

When I lived and worked in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, spotting actors, singers, sports figures and celebrities was an almost daily occurrence. I saw Tony Bennett a few times during those years, on the street, in a restaurant - once sitting a few seats from me in the audience at the Belasco Theatre for a performance of “Ain’t Misbehavin’”.

Of course, I’ve seen and heard Bennett sing for decades on television…and listened to his vinyl records and digitally re-mastered recordings. But there’s something about a live performance that burns it forever in your memory. I know…because I’ve seen and heard other great singers live…Peggy Lee, Lou Rawls, Vic Damone, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, among others.

I regret that I never saw and heard Bennett sing live…not in New York…not in Las Vegas or other places where we perhaps crossed paths. He was song stylist with few equals. Tony Bennett died a couple weeks short of his 97th birthday on July 21 at his Manhattan home.

He appeared with Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall in a show titled “One Last Time” when he was 95…in August of 2021. He suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease…but those who saw him live and later when it aired on television witnessed someone able to recall lyrics of songs that he no doubt sang thousands of times over the years…despite an illness that often wipes the memory clean.

People often asked him if he ever grew weary of singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and he almost always replied with a smile, “Do you ever get tired of making love?”

It’s one thing, I suppose, to have a singing career playing to standing room only crowds for longer than many folks live…70-plus years. But to hit the right notes…please listeners and viewers so consistently during the whole of that span…well, it’s remarkable.

In more than 150 recordings…and too many concerts and club dates in small rooms and large to count…Bennett performed what he loved dearly…the greatest songs of great composers…George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and Jimmy Van Heusen.

Record producers did their best to change him during the 1960s and 1970s…told him to pursue new songs with a rock ‘n’ roll beat. He resisted…maybe knowing that the public might chase trends…but they would return. And, man oh man, was he right.

Both his peers - like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby - who passed from five to 25 years before, and pioneering performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Fred Astaire,  who influenced him, would not have been shocked to see his popularity re-emerge even stronger into the 21st century.

Consider that he sang with Rosemary Clooney when she was in her 20s, Celine Dion in her 20s, Lady Gaga in her 20s and Liza Minnelli in her 20s. And while Bennett’s singing always garnered fans…those who knew him well said he was one of the most kind, gracious and giving people in all of show business. You can’t fool that many people…he was someone that simply left you better than he found you.

Bennett won his first two Grammy Awards for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” in 1963, and the last one for “Love for Sale,” with Lady Gaga in 2022. In between, another 17 Grammy Awards. He sold more than 60 million records over the years…and I dare say…a million in the past week.

Countless writers and critics have tried to describe Bennett’s voice…his appeal…and for the most part they failed. He lacked that melodious voice of crooner Bing Crosby, wasn’t gravelly like Louis Armstrong, lacked the coolness of Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin…and yet…ask famous singers who they could listen to for hours…and most often it was…and remains…Tony Bennett.

Frank Sinatra in 1965 said it simply: “Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business.” No one ever got anywhere swimming upstream against a Sinatra current, so I’ll leave it there.

Fortunately, I have Tony Bennett recordings to enjoy for my remaining years on the planet…“Just in Time,” “The Best Is Yet to Come,” “I Wanna Be Around,” “Rags to Riches,” and, of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” But there are scores of others…songs that make you smile, get you snapping your fingers or patting your foot.

As for live memories…I have none of him performing…just the ever-present smile that graced his face. I saw it flash in the Belasco Theatre in 1980 with a nod of his head when our eyes met. I remember that moment to this day…perhaps that says everything you might need to know about Tony Bennett.

— Don Thompson, an American awaiting Canadian citizenship, lives in Vernon and in Florida. In a career that spans more than 40 years, Don has been a working journalist, a speechwriter and the CEO of an advertising and public relations firm. A passionate and compassionate man, he loves the written word as much as fine dinners with great wines.

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