Biography of Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett, born and raised in Astoria, is an American traditional pop singer. Bennett began singing at a very young age of 10 and was first recognized by Pearl Bailey . Bennett is also known for his big band, his tunes and his jazz.

In addition, Bennett is also a painter, author, and founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in New York.

Early age and education

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto. He was born on August 3, 1926 , in Astoria, Queens, New York. He is a son of John Benedetto and Anna Suraci . His father died when he was 10 years old. Bennett is an American by nationality and is of Caucasian ethnicity.

Bennett learned painting and music at the School of Industrial Art, but was unable to continue his studies and began working as a singing waiter. Bennett also attended the American Theater Wing after serving in the United States Army during World War II.

Race

Tony Bennett began singing at the age of 10 and also performed alongside Mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, at the opening of the Triborough Bridge. At the age of 13, Bennett began singing as a singing waiter and was paid at various Italian restaurants.

In 1949, his talent was first recognized by Pearl Bailey who featured him for her show in Greenwich Village. So, Bob Hope gave her a shot on his tour. Bennett then began working with record producer, Mitch Miller and gave him his first big hit, Thanks to You.

In the late 1950s, Bennett developed his interest in jazz music and produced tracks, Jeepers Creepers and Chicago featuring Count Basie , Basie Swings , Bennett Sings . In 1962, Bennett gained further fame with the release of I Left My Heart in San Francisco . He also received his first Grammy Award for the song.

Bennett then rose to stardom after the success of later hits like I Want To Be Close and The Good Life . Bennett then released several tribute albums, Perfectly Frank, Steppin’ Out , and Tony Bennett on Vacation.

Bennett released A Wonderful World with kd Lang in 2002 for which he received another Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. In 2006, to mark her 80th birthday, she released Duets: An American Classic , featuring Barbara Streisand, Elton John and Sting .

Following the success of the album, he released another celebratory album in 2011, Duets II which includes Miss is a Trap featuring Lady Gaga and Body and Soul featuring Amy Winehouse . In 2014, she collaborated with Lady Gaga and released an album, Cheek to Cheek for which Bennett received another Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

In addition to being a singer, Bennett is also a painter and is known as Anthony Benedetto. Paintings of him have appeared in the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Bennett is also the author of bestselling books, Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen , The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett in the Studio: A Life of Art and Music , and Life Is a Gift: Zen from Bennett.

Awards

Tony Bennett has won several awards, including 19 Grammy Awards. Bennett was honored with Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance in 1997, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2016, Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance in 1997, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocal in 2007, and many others.

Additionally, Bennett has also been nominated for a 2018 Grammy, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Personal life

Tony Bennett is currently married to Susan Benedetto who is a former social studies teacher. The couple married in an intimate wedding ceremony on June 21, 2007.

Benedetto and Bennett met for the first time at one of their concerts. At the time, Benedetto was in his early 20s, while Bennett was in his early 60s. The couple began dating in the late 1980s shortly after his divorce from Susan Grant, his second wife.

Previously, Bennett was married to Patricia Beech . The couple met while performing at a nightclub in Cleveland. They were married on February 12, 1952. Together they had two children; D’Andrea Bennett aka Danny who was born in 1954 and Daegal Bennett aka Dae who was born in 1955.

The couple separated in 1965. The reason for their divorce was Bennett, who could not spend time with his family and spent most of his time on the road. His divorce was finalized in 1971. Shortly after his separation from Beech, he began dating actress, Sandra Grant in 1965. They were married on December 29, 1971 in New York. The couple share two children: Joanna Bennett, born 1970, and Antonia Bennett, born April 7, 1974. They separated in 1979, and their divorce was finalized on July 1, 1983.

Bennett then began using cocaine and marijuana in the late 1970s, however his son, Danny, helped him get his personal and professional life back on track by working together as his personal manager.

Net worth

Tony Bennett’s estimated net worth is $200 million. Bennett earned most of her net worth from his successful music career. To date, 50 million recordings of his albums have been sold and he has performed several live performances.

Bennett’s paintings were also featured in ARTnews and various other magazines with most of them selling for $80,000 individually.

His best-selling books Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen and Tony Bennett in the Study: A Life of Art and Music also helped add a figure to his net worth.

Bennett reportedly listed his six-bedroom, 9,500-square-foot home on the westernmost promontory of Belvedere Island for $27,500,000.

Charity

Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto together established a $78 million arts education charity, Exploring the Arts. They also founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, New York.