By Steve Vertlieb: I learned this morning of the terrible news that the great Tony Bennett had passed away at age 96. He was a legendary artist and performer whose class, dignity, and style had no equal. In a world occupied by crass commercialism and juvenile imitation, Tony Bennett was quite simply a living legend, the final act and curtain call for a generation that has seen its last bow.
For my special anniversary gift to my precious Shelly in 2018, I purchased virtually the best seats in the house for the spectacular Tony Bennett concert at the venerable Academy of Music (“The Old Lady of Locust Street”) here in Philadelphia. We were seated Orchestra Center on the very first row. I could actually have touched the stage had I chosen to do so. Astonishingly, we might almost have reached out and shaken the hand of this living legend. Tony Bennett was 92 years young. I’d loved him for well over sixty years. However, due to his age, I honestly wasn’t sure of what to expect from a live performance. It was sheer magic, however. He was quite simply electrifying.
His voice was clear, strong, and amazingly powerful. He had no problem hitting the high notes. It was as if a half century had evaporated. He was obviously thrilled by the adoring crowd of literally thousands of fans and loving admirers, while transformed by their over powering affection. He sang his heart out. I’ve seen many concerts over the years. My favorite has always been Sinatra, Ella, and Basie at The Uris Theater in New York in the early seventies … but this night’s stunning performance by Tony Bennett was every bit as exciting and joyous. It was an electrifying evening of music and songs by literally the last of the great popular singers.
They’re all gone now … Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, and Bing Crosby. Tony Bennett was the very last of the classic, legendary performers who proliferated concert halls and recording studios throughout the nineteen forties, fifties, and sixties. This was a truly remarkable appearance by the very last of his breed. Tony Bennett delivered an electrifying vocal performance that memorable night and he’d never sounded better. At the wondrous age of ninety-two years, he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt why he remained the magnificent persona that he was, and shall always be … a star.
God Rest Your Sweet Soul, Tony. You were the best of the best. Your music shall live for eternity. “You Left Your Heart” in perpetuity for all of us to listen to, cherish and to remember.
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While his passing is indeed sad news, over the last couple of years he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease that by now was in a rather advanced stage (he and his family decided to discuss his diagnosis and the progress of the disease publicly), so there is an element of mercy in his death.
May he rest in peace.
I envy your memory of that night, Steve. I saw both Cab Calloway and BB King in their career ‘twilight’, and both were huge fun; Bill Haley, sadly, not so. It’s equally remarkable and joyful that Tony Bennett kept hitting those notes well into his 90s. A true legend.
He used to play Milwaukee on a regular basis, and I once recall selling him a lovely Illustrated Poetical Works of William Blake at the airport bookstore. I never heard a nasty story about him.
I think the most enjoyable anniversary present my parents ever received was about 20 years ago, when my two sisters and myself bought them close-to-the-stage tickets to see Tony Bennett here in Portland and paid for their hotel room (they lived about 100 miles south of here). They talked about that for years.
They played “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” at my mother’s funeral in early May this year. During lunch today, I pulled out the LP with the same title (which I inherited from them) to listen to it one more time.