Tony Bennett: I left my heart all over the world, not just San Francisco!

HE turns 91 next week, but Tony Bennett still packs concert halls all over America and hasn’t ruled out coming to Britain again.

How does he do it? Why does he do it? And did he really leave his heart in San Francisco?

“Every day, I wake up and smile,” said Tony, explaining his approach to life. “I believe in the fact that it’s a gift to be alive.

“I haven’t always felt like that. Like so many other people, I took life for granted and probably did not treat it as well as I should, but you learn to be more respectful and you are taught by the things you get wrong.

“One day, you just realise you should enjoy each day for what it is.”

Saying that just about sums up the entire life — so far — of Tony Bennett who was born Anthony Dominik Benedetto in the Queens area of New York in 1926.

His father was a grocer born in Calabria, Italy, and his mother a seamstress whose parents were also born in Calabria.

“My father was not a well man, so we had nothing as a family,” said Tony.

“He did his best, but those were difficult times for everyone. I had an older sister, Mary and an older brother, John.

“Those were the days of the Great Depression and nobody had anything.

“We were taught to respect other people even if they were sleeping on the streets and my father also encouraged us to explore and enjoy the arts including literature and music.

“We used to listen to Al Jolson, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland and stars like that. We loved them, but we had no connections except through my Uncle Dick.

“He was a tap dancer and played the vaudeville halls. He was a fascinating guy and a great help to me as he encouraged me to sing and by the time I was 10, I was singing in public.”

By the age of 13, Tony was engaged as a singing waiter in local Italian restaurants and that not only helped with the family income, but also encouraged him to think about a singing career.

“I tried a few things, even a copy boy for the Associated Press but I didn’t want to do that all my life,” he said.

The Second World War put everything on hold for a while.

“I was drafted into the Army and eventually found myself in Europe on the front line,” he said.

“It was an experience like no other and one that no human should have to go through.

“Perhaps that is one of the really big reasons why I feel that it is good to be alive.

“We sometimes portray wars almost in a romantic way. It isn’t like that. It was and is a nightmare that never really leaves you.”

Tony finally left the army in 1946 and returned home where he was training in bel canto, a style of singing which not only brings the best out of the voice, but also protects it with a view to a long-term singing capabiity.

“I think that is why I can still sing today, I was very lucky to get that opportunity to train,” he said.

“While I was still in the army, I had started to sing with the Special Services band and it kind of reminded me what I really wanted to do.

“As I trained, I took whatever gigs I could and I had another bit of luck when Pearl Bailey heard me and asked if I would be her support at Greenwich Village.

“I jumped at it, and then Bob Hope came along and saw me and asked if I would go on tour with him.

“It was Bob who told me to use Tony Bennett as my stage name.

“Next thing I knew, I was signed to Columbia Records.

“I had a lot of great advice from a lot of great people and one of the best was to avoid copying Frank Sinatra, who was huge at the time — and still is.

“It was good advice as everyone wanted to be like him, he was the best.

“I listened to that advice and tried to make sure I had my own style.

“Frank is still the best, though, and that’s one of the reasons why I helped as founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.

“Frank really changed my life. In an interview, he once said I was the best singer he’d ever heard. Can you believe that? Frank said that about me.

“Those few words encouraged people to listen and suddenly, I went from being a fairly successful singer to international fame.

“That was all because of Frank and so typical of him to help someone else.”

Tony’s path has had its trips and there have been times when it might have seemed to be all over, but he’s always bounced back from dips in popularity and other setbacks.

“You have to look forward all the time, gather strength from those around you and be determined,” he said.

“I learned that if you are well known and can beat a problem, it encourages so many other people, so it is well worth the fight.

“I was sorry when Amy Winehouse died, she had a natural jazz voice and it was sad that she lost the fight. I wished I had been able to help.

“Just because people are young and new does not mean that they are not great singers or good people.

“When I did the Duets albums, I sang with so many great young people. Never underestimate them.

“Yes, some will fall by the wayside, but many will go on to become legends. I sang with Lady Gaga and she is much more than a gimmick.

“She can really sing and she’s a nice person.

“I don’t think the TV talent shows like The X Factor are much help really.

“They don’t encourage real singing. They just tell everyone to sing loud and the one who sings the loudest generates the most excitement.

“That’s not what it is about. It is not even about fame. It is about expressing yourself and touching the emotions of the audience.

“Even if you do a cover of a classic song, do it your own way, don’t try to be like someone else only louder.

“Singing is a beautiful art, don’t make it ugly.”

Talking of art, while Tony Bennett is internationally famous and still packing the concert halls, he is also pulling crowds into art galleries.

“My father encouraged us to take an interest in the arts and I used to do a few sketches,” he said.

“So I have done some paintings and people have been kind enough to display them in a few galleries. If you see the signature Anthony Benedetto on a painting, that’s me.”

Tony is obviously still enjoying himself and has no plans to retire.

“I listen to my doctor and he keeps saying: ‘There’s not a thing wrong with you. Keep going at it,’ so who am I to argue with a doctor?” he said.

So did he really leave his heart in San Francisco?

“Of course,” he joked. “That has been such a great song for me.

“A New Yorker singing about leaving his heart in San Francisco might seem strange, but it’s been my tune for many years and I love the song.

“You don’t really leave your heart anywhere, but you keep sticking people and places into it.

“Look at my heart and you’ll find so many great people and great places in it, including Britain, of course.

“Maybe I should sing We’ll Meet Again.”