Tony Bennett

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 21 Jul 2023 5:29 am

The last of the legendary vocalists, Tony Bennett has passed at age 96. The end of a wonderful era, IMHO.

I saw him in 2016 at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio. He was magnificent. Those who've had the opportunity to see him perform live will agree with me.

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 21 Jul 2023 7:00 am

One of my favorite artists, sympathies to his families.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 21 Jul 2023 7:37 am

I saw Tony Bennett in 2011 at one of the Bridge School Benefits that Neil Young hosted (certainly one of the most unusual bands on the bill). The other bands (Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Carlos Santana,Arcade Fire, etc.) were not as used to playing acoustically as Mr. Bennett and his band (piano, bass, drums). They came out in suits rather than street clothes and proceeded to show the other musicians how it's supposed to be done.

At one point he set down the microphone and sang completely a cappella. The audience quieted down so we could hear, and he filled Shoreline Amphitheater with just the sound of this voice.

A class act all the way. There's a statue of him at the Fairmont Hotel at the top of Nob Hill. He has a special place in the hearts of San Francisco and San Franciscans everywhere.

Buddie Hrabal · Post by **Buddie Hrabal** » 21 Jul 2023 8:48 am

He knew how to act, dress and be humble. Tony was Ray Price's favorite singer. The music family world wide will miss him. RIP Mr. Tony Bennett

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 21 Jul 2023 9:34 am

The greatest, according to Sinatra (I personally concur, and I'm a huge Sinatra fan) - https://abc7.com/tony-bennett-died-deat ... /13529395/

Bennett was praised often by his peers, but never more meaningfully than by what Sinatra said in a 1965 Life magazine interview: "For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He's the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more."

Absolutely the end of an era. And a life well-lived at a lot of levels, he had a great energy. I saw him exactly once, many many moons ago. And it was different (read - even better) than listening to him on a record. I guess all eras have to come to an end, but it sure leaves an empty feeling. RIP Tony.

billy tam · Post by **billy tam** » 21 Jul 2023 2:25 pm

A good run at almost 97. My mother made 96 last Tuesday.
An awesome voice, stylist, legendary vocalist up there in rarified level among the greatest of all time.
Billy

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 21 Jul 2023 2:26 pm

Tony was instrumental in getting a high school near his childhood home built in NYC, and after getting the city to pony up the money to do it, they said it should be named after him but he said, name it after my mentor, Frank Sinatra, and so it was.

A truly humble man, great talent, and a true legend.

RIP

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 22 Jul 2023 4:10 am

On Saturday, January 7, 1956, Tony Bennett appeared on the "Purina Grand Ole Opry" broadcast nationally over ABC-TV. The show was a "Tribute to Hank Williams, with host Ernest Tubb, Ray Price, Ferlin Husky, June Carter, Little Jimmy Dickens, Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters, Jean Shepard, Slim Whitman, Chet Atkins, The Carlisles, The Cedar Hill Square Dancers, and special guest, Tony Bennett.

Bennett sang: "They'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" and "Cold, Cold Heart," Before Bennett performed "Cold, Cold Heart," Ernest Tubb and Tony Bennett (with Ray Price looking on) discussed Hank after footage was shown of Hank singing "Cold, Cold Heart," from the Kate Smith Show, April 23, 1952.

The broadcast is also notable as Patsy Cline's first and only TV appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Footage shows Little Jimmy Dickens and Ernest Tubb introducing Patsy as she performs her 1955 Decca release: "A Church, A Courtroom And Then Goodbye." I'm almost sure that's Hank Garland, off camera, backing on guitar. Patsy also appeared with the entire cast for the closing number: “I Saw The Light.”

Little Jimmy Dickens and The Country Boys (Howard Rhoten, Spider Wilson, Johnny Johnson, Buddie Emmons, and Joel Price) performed "Salty Boogie" and "Cold Feet." Also notable is June Carter singing "Keep Our Hands Off Him," backed up by The Carter Family, while off camera, Chet Atkins and Buddie Emmons are also on backup. This is one of two times I know of where Chet and Emmons wind up on stage playing together at the Opry, by chance, at the same time.

"Clint Eastwood Presents Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends" (2007) is well worth watching. The Opry footage is shown, and Tony states, "Hank Williams was the Billie Holiday of the South." He also recounts: "When I passed out my arrangement to the Opry musicians, one of the guitar players put the arrangement aside and said, 'You just sing and we'll follow you.' So I sang the same way I always did, and they accompanied me beautifully." The steel backup for both Patsy Cline and Tony Bennett was probably Don Helms. It sounded like Helms behind Bennett, and it's likely, in early 1956, he was still on Price's band, also on the show that night. Once again, I think it was probably Hank Garland on guitar.

Neil Lang · Post by **Neil Lang** » 22 Jul 2023 5:34 am

Barb & I attended a concert of Tony's at the Orphium Theatre in Minneapolis in the mid nineties. Piano, Guitar & Drums.
We appreciate many styles of music when it is played and done well. He was for certain..."King of the Hill...Top of the Heap!!!"

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 22 Jul 2023 12:12 pm

Tony Benett was an American Legend!

I loved his singing and professionalism.

He was a U.S. Army Veteran World War II and a decorated Veteran with Bronze Star and other Medals.

RIP Mr. Bennett

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 23 Jul 2023 7:22 pm

Did he play Steel? Great Singer!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Jul 2023 11:11 am

Randy Gilliam wrote:Did he play Steel?...

He certainly did play steel. Matter of fact, I sold him my Infinity!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 24 Jul 2023 3:48 pm

Herb Steiner wrote:
Randy Gilliam wrote:Did he play Steel?...
He certainly did play steel. Matter of fact, I sold him my Infinity!

Herb, I can't tell if your kidding or serious. In any case, I agree that Tony was a great singer. Those guys had so much class.

RC

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Jul 2023 5:36 pm

I apologize to the Forum for posting a little joke between Randy Gilliam and me in the midst of a serious thread. It was only because Randy asked about Tony playing steel.

Tony Bennett did NOT play pedal steel to the best of my knowledge.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 24 Jul 2023 8:38 pm

Herb Steiner wrote:I apologize to the Forum for posting a little joke between Randy Gilliam and me in the midst of a serious thread. It was only because Randy asked about Tony playing steel.

Tony Bennett did NOT play pedal steel to the best of my knowledge.

Herb, No apologies necessary on my account. I thought that was the case, but you never know who might have an old steel under the bed. Thomas Jefferson was a fiddler, Bill Clinton played saxophone. I think I heard that Marty Robbins played steel.

RC

Joe Rogers · Post by **Joe Rogers** » 26 Jul 2023 6:33 am

I can't go through the holidays without listening to Tony's version of "My Favourite Things". It is a college course on correct song delivery. Simply marvelous.

Joe Rogers

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 26 Jul 2023 11:59 am

Joe Rogers wrote:I can't go through the holidays without listening to Tony's version of "My Favourite Things". It is a college course on correct song delivery. Simply marvelous.

Joe Rogers

I agree 100%. Tony, and others like him, had so much class. They could deliver their song successfully with just their singing, standing still, without the theatrics of light shows and fog machines, or stage gymnastics. Maybe that's why they stay popular for years and years.

RC

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 27 Jul 2023 8:48 pm

Herb I will still buy it after you finish wearing it out!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 30 Jul 2023 11:38 pm

class act , old school , nothing but respect for him

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 31 Jul 2023 5:02 pm

Saw him at one of the casinos about 10-12 years ago. Bought my tickets early when I heard he was coming and we had GREAT seats!! Wow is all I can say. Amazing performance...... the quality of the his backing group was out of this world. Tom Adair(piano),Gray Sargent (guitar) Marshall Wood (bass)Harold Jones (drums)
Truly a class act. What a show!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 1 Aug 2023 5:46 am

I adored Tony Bennett, having grown up with my grandfather listening to him quite a bit. I took a personal interest in his music after the release of Perfectly Frank, a tribute to his hero Sinatra. I still remember the chills I got from his performance of When Do The Bells Ring For Me? at the Grammy Awards, one of my favorite performances ever on that show. Actually, there might have even been some tears.

I recorded in Bennett Studios (RIP) a few times with his son Dae engineering.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Aug 2023 3:27 pm

Tony could swing. Not Western Swing, per se, but could you see yourself behind Tony, rocking on your C6 neck with this band?

I sure could.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPpdfMzK0p8

The Steel Guitar Forum

Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett

The last great voice of an era!

Tony Bennet

Steel

Re: Steel

Re: Steel

Steel