An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett
The Year of Tony Bennett notes the passing of lyricist Richard Adler, who died on June 21, 2012 at the age of 90.
Mr. Adler was best known for his collaboration with composer Jerry Ross. Together they created two major Broadway musicals: The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees. Later in his career, he worked on other musicals as well as classical music compositions.
He, along with Mr. Ross, wrote one of Tony Bennett’s early hits, Rags to Riches.
Obituaries:
I think NPR loves Tony Bennett, as they have archived a treasure trove of interviews. Here are some of my favorites.
This story by Scott Simon, Tony Bennett’s Art of Intimacy, was played on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday on November 4, 2011 is a favorite of mine. It’s an extended interview that covers his vocal training right after the war, how he addresses singing at the age of 85, and some special words about the people he collaborated with in Duets II. Good interview, nice clips from the album, and very nicely produced. Click here to listen.
In the same time period, Tony visited the NPR studios and sang two songs, accompanied by Lee Musiker. Click here to view this small concert.
And an extended interview on World Cafe, also from Fall 2011. The discussion about the end about Tony’s relationship to painting and singing are well worth listening to. Click here to listen.
He has appeared on Marian McPartland’s wonderful Piano Jazz show. Click here to listen. This show was recorded in 2004.
And finally, an interesting story about creating a new arrangement of I Left My Heart in San Francisco with Bill Charlap in 2006. Click here to listen.
There’s more on NPR … Just navigate to www.npr.org and search for Tony Bennett. You wont’ be sorry!
The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Tony and his wife Susan a very happy anniversary!
The fact that I’ve started this blog means that I have a fair amount to say about Tony Bennett. I’ve said some of it already, and there’s a lot more to come.
But it comes down to this–thank you, Tony Bennett.
Thank you for making so many wonderful albums. Thank you for continuing to appear in concert. And for playing the West Coast often enough for me to see you in concert pretty often. Thank you for writing your books. Thank you for everything you mean to those of us who love your art and music.
Thank you for letting us share in that.
– Suzanne
Anthony Benedetto has three paintings hanging in the Smithsonian. His portraits of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald hang in the National Portrait Gallery. This painting, Central Park, hangs at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the Renwick Gallery.
A New Yorker at his core, Mr. Benedetto has created many lovely paintings of scenes from Central Park. This oil painting was created in 1998. You can read more about this painting here.