Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tony Bennett
Discover the career path of Tony Bennett, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Tony Bennett (Anthony Dominick Benedetto) was a highly acclaimed American jazz and traditional pop singer. He amassed 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Recognized as a National Endowments for the Arts Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree, Bennett significantly contributed to arts education by founding the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and co-founding Exploring the Arts. His global record sales exceeded 50 million, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying his place as a music icon.
1949: Opened for Pearl Bailey
In 1949, Pearl Bailey recognized Tony Bennett's talent and asked him to open for her in Greenwich Village, leading to a career-changing opportunity.
1949: Recorded as Bari
In 1949, Tony Bennett made a few recordings as Bari for Leslie Records, but they did not sell well.
1950: Signed to Columbia Records
In 1950, Tony Bennett cut a demo of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and was subsequently signed to Columbia Records by Mitch Miller, marking a significant step in his professional career.
1951: First Number-One Song
In 1951, Tony Bennett had his first number-one popular song, "Because of You", marking a significant milestone in his early career.
1951: "Because of You" Reached Number One
In 1951, Tony Bennett's "Because of You" reached number one on the pop charts and stayed there for ten weeks, selling over a million copies and marking his first major hit.
1953: "Rags to Riches" Achieved Number One
In 1953, Tony Bennett's "Rags to Riches" became his third number-one hit, topping the charts for eight weeks, marking another significant achievement in his early career.
1953: "Rags to Riches" Release
In early 1953, Tony Bennett released several popular tracks, including "Rags to Riches", further establishing his presence in the music scene.
1954: Chuck Wayne Became Musical Director
In 1954, Chuck Wayne became Tony Bennett's musical director, marking a shift towards incorporating jazz elements into his music.
1955: Released 'Cloud 7'
In 1955, Tony Bennett released his first long-playing album, Cloud 7, featuring Chuck Wayne, showcasing his growing interest in jazz music.
September 1956: Hosted 'The Tony Bennett Show'
In September 1956, Tony Bennett hosted 'The Tony Bennett Show' on NBC as a summer replacement for 'The Perry Como Show'.
1957: Ralph Sharon Became Musical Director
In 1957, Ralph Sharon replaced Chuck Wayne as Tony Bennett's pianist, arranger, and musical director, influencing Bennett to focus more on jazz music.
1957: Released 'The Beat of My Heart'
In 1957, Tony Bennett released 'The Beat of My Heart', an album featuring jazz musicians and a strong emphasis on percussion, receiving both popularity and critical acclaim.
1957: "In the Middle of an Island" Reached Number Nine
In 1957, despite the rise of rock and roll, Tony Bennett's "In the Middle of an Island" reached number nine on the Billboard charts, becoming his highest-charting song during that period.
1958: Released 'Basie Swings, Bennett Sings'
In 1958, Tony Bennett released 'Basie Swings, Bennett Sings' in collaboration with the Count Basie Orchestra.
1959: Released 'In Person!'
In 1959, Tony Bennett released the album 'In Person!' with the Count Basie Orchestra.
1961: First performance of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
In 1961, Tony Bennett first sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the Fairmont Hotel.
June 1962: Carnegie Hall Concert
In June 1962, Tony Bennett staged a highly promoted concert performance at Carnegie Hall, marking a significant event in his career and solidifying his reputation as a star.
October 1962: Sang on The Tonight Show
In October 1962, Tony Bennett sang on the initial broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, further expanding his exposure to a wide audience.
1962: "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" Recorded
In 1962, Tony Bennett recorded "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", which would later become his signature song, solidifying his status as a prominent vocalist.
1962: Release of 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco'
In 1962, Tony Bennett released 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco', which became a top-10 record.
1962: Last Grammy Win
Tony Bennett's last Grammy before 1992 was in 1962.
1962: "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" First Appeared on Charts
Tony Bennett's record, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" first appeared on the Billboard 200 chart in 1962.
1963: Released "I Wanna Be Around..."
In 1963, Tony Bennett released the album "I Wanna Be Around...", which was a top-5 success, with the title track and "The Good Life" each reaching the top 20 of the pop singles chart.
1964: Release of "When Joanna Loved Me"
In 1964, the song "When Joanna Loved Me" was released.
1965: Ralph Sharon and Bennett Parted Ways
In 1965, Ralph Sharon and Tony Bennett parted ways, marking a significant change in Bennett's musical direction.
1965: "If I Ruled the World" Released
In 1965, Tony Bennett released "If I Ruled the World" from the musical Pickwick, which became his last top-40 single.
1965: Participated in Selma to Montgomery Marches
In 1965, Tony Bennett, a firm believer in the Civil Rights Movement, participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches and performed in the "Stars for Freedom" rally.
1966: Acted in "The Oscar"
In 1966, Tony Bennett attempted to break into acting with a role in the film "The Oscar", which received middling reviews and led him to not seek further roles.
1968: End of charting singles era
In 1968, Tony Bennett's era of charting singles concluded until 2010.
1970: Released "Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today!"
In 1970, Tony Bennett released "Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today!", featuring covers of Beatles songs, a project he was reluctant to do and which pleased no one.
1972: Departed Columbia for Verve/MGM Records
In 1972, Tony Bennett departed Columbia Records and signed with the Verve division of MGM Records, relocating to London and hosting a television show, "Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town."
1972: Last Album to Reach Charts
Tony Bennett's last album before 1986 to reach the charts was in 1972.
1975: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album Release
In 1975, Tony Bennett recorded "What is This Thing Called Love?" and released The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album with jazz pianist Bill Evans on his own record company, Improv.
1976: Together Again Album Release
In 1976, Tony Bennett released "Together Again", his second album with jazz pianist Bill Evans, on his own record company, Improv.
1977: Improv Record Company Closure
In 1977, Tony Bennett's record company, Improv, went out of business due to lacking a distribution arrangement with a major label.
1986: Oscar Nomination for "Life in a Looking Glass"
In 1986, Henry Mancini's theme song "Life in a Looking Glass" from the film That's Life, sung by Tony Bennett, received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
1986: Resigned to Columbia Records and Released "The Art of Excellence"
In 1986, Tony Bennett re-signed with Columbia Records, gaining creative control, and released "The Art of Excellence", his first album to reach the charts since 1972.
1990: Release of "Astoria: Portrait of the Artist"
In 1990, Tony Bennett released the acclaimed album "Astoria: Portrait of the Artist", a look-back on his career.
1992: Release of "Perfectly Frank" and Grammy Win
In 1992, Tony Bennett released "Perfectly Frank", an homage to Frank Sinatra. The album later achieved gold status and won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.
1993: Benefit Concerts Organized by Alternative Rock Stations
In 1993, Tony Bennett played a series of benefit concerts organized by alternative rock radio stations, exposing his music to a younger audience.
1993: Release of "Steppin' Out" and Grammy Win
In 1993, Tony Bennett released "Steppin' Out", a tribute to Fred Astaire. The album achieved gold status and won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.
1994: Appearance on MTV Unplugged
In 1994, Tony Bennett appeared on MTV Unplugged with guest appearances by Elvis Costello and k.d. lang. The resulting album went platinum and won a Grammy for Album of the Year.
1996: Publication of 'Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen'
In 1996, many of Tony Bennett's works were published in the art book "Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen".
1997: Induction into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame
In 1997, Tony Bennett was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
1998: Glastonbury Festival Performance and Autobiography Publication
In 1998, Tony Bennett performed at the Glastonbury Festival and his autobiography, "The Good Life", was first published.
1999: Assets worth $15 to $20 Million
By 1999, Tony Bennett's assets were worth $15 to 20 million. He continued to record and tour, playing a hundred shows a year.
2001: Opening of Bennett Studios
In 2001, Dae Bennett opened Bennett Studios in Englewood, New Jersey.
2001: Opening of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
In 2001, Tony Bennett and Susan Crow founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, a public high school dedicated to teaching the performing arts, which opened in 2001.
2001: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2001, Tony Bennett was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2001: Official Artist for Kentucky Derby
In 2001, Tony Bennett was chosen as the official artist for the Kentucky Derby.
April 2002: Fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee
In April 2002, Tony Bennett joined Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, and former President Bill Clinton in a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at New York City's Apollo Theater.
2002: Ralph Sharon's Retirement
In 2002, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett's pianist and musical director, retired after reuniting with the singer in previous years.
2002: ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2002, Tony Bennett received a lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
December 4, 2005: Kennedy Center Honor Recipient
On December 4, 2005, Tony Bennett was the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor.
August 3, 2006: 80th Birthday Celebrations and Album Release
On August 3, 2006, Tony Bennett turned 80 years old. His record label celebrated by releasing reissues, compilations, and the album Duets: An American Classic, which reached his highest chart position ever and won a Grammy Award.
2007: Publication of 'Tony Bennett in the Studio: A Life of Art & Music'
In 2007, the art book "Tony Bennett in the Studio: A Life of Art & Music" became a bestseller among art books.
2008: Performances with Billy Joel and A Swingin' Christmas Album Release
In 2008, Tony Bennett made appearances with Billy Joel and released the album "A Swingin' Christmas with The Count Basie Big Band."
2009: Performance at Macworld Conference & Expo
In 2009, Tony Bennett performed at the conclusion of the final Macworld Conference & Expo for Apple Inc., and made his Jazz Fest debut in New Orleans.
February 2010: Participation in "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
In February 2010, Tony Bennett was one of over 70 artists who sang on "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a charity single in aid of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
2010: Return to Charting
In 2010, Tony Bennett returned to charting after 1968.
2010: Interview on artistic stance
In a 2010 interview, Tony Bennett reiterated his artistic stance on his music choices.
September 2011: Release of "Duets II" and Billboard Chart Success
In September 2011, Tony Bennett released "Duets II" and his duet with Amy Winehouse charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making Bennett the oldest living artist to reach that top spot.
November 2011: Release of "Tony Bennett – The Complete Collection"
In November 2011, Columbia released "Tony Bennett – The Complete Collection", a 73-CD plus 3-DVD set, which brought forth many albums that had not had a previous CD release.
December 2011: Appearance at the Royal Variety Performance
In December 2011, Tony Bennett appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in Salford in the presence of Princess Anne.
October 2012: Release of "Viva Duets" and Performance at Giants Ceremony
In October 2012, Tony Bennett released "Viva Duets", an album of Latin American music duets. On October 31, he performed at a ceremony commemorating the 2012 World Series victory by the San Francisco Giants.
October 31, 2012: Performance at Giants Victory Ceremony
On October 31, 2012, Tony Bennett performed "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at a ceremony commemorating the 2012 World Series victory by the San Francisco Giants.
October 2014: Release of "Cheek to Cheek Live!" and Start of Co-headlining Tour
In October 2014, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga released the concert special Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live! and kicked off their co-headlining Cheek to Cheek Tour.
2014: Collaboration with Lady Gaga Begins
In 2014, Tony Bennett began his collaboration with Lady Gaga, starting with the album Cheek to Cheek, marking a resurgence in his career.
September 25, 2015: Release of "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern"
On September 25, 2015, Tony Bennett released "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern", featuring Bill Charlap on piano.
November 1, 2015: Performance at the Baseball World Series Game 5
On November 1, 2015, Tony Bennett, joined by the choir from the Frank Sinatra School, sang "America the Beautiful" before Game 5 of the baseball World Series between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets at Citi Field.
2015: Tour with Lady Gaga
Throughout 2014 and 2015, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga toured together to promote their album Cheek to Cheek, expanding Bennett's reach to new audiences.
December 20, 2016: NBC Special Concert
On December 20, 2016, NBC televised a special concert titled "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come" in honor of Tony Bennett's 90th birthday.
September 2018: Re-recording of "Fascinating Rhythm"
In September 2018, Tony Bennett re-recorded the George Gershwin song "Fascinating Rhythm", earning a Guinness World Record for the longest time between recordings of the same single by the same artist.
2018: Recording Tracks with Lady Gaga
From 2018 until early 2020, Tony Bennett recorded tracks with Lady Gaga for their 2021 album "Love for Sale", despite experiencing moments of confusion during recording sessions.
August 12, 2021: Retirement Announcement
On August 12, 2021, Tony Bennett's retirement from concerts was announced due to physical frailty.
September 30, 2021: Release of 'Love for Sale'
On September 30, 2021, Tony Bennett's final album, "Love for Sale", a collaboration with Lady Gaga, was released, receiving favorable reviews and debuting at number eight in the United States.
December 16, 2021: MTV Unplugged Performance
On December 16, 2021, Tony Bennett's last televised performance was with Lady Gaga on MTV Unplugged, featuring duets from "Love for Sale".
2021: Release of "Love for Sale"
In 2021, with the release of the duo's second album, Love for Sale, Tony Bennett broke the record for the longest run of a top-10 album on the Billboard 200 chart and the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days.
September 2023: Release of 'The Lady and the Legend' documentary
In September 2023, the documentary "The Lady and the Legend", featuring footage from the making of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's collaborative albums, is scheduled to be available on Paramount+.
