The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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BBC Desert Island Discs

For many decades now, BBC Radio 4 has conducted interviews with notable persons to ask them what eight discs they would want with them if they were cast away on a desert island. The BBC has archives going back to the 1940s(!) up to today.

Tony Bennett has been interviewed twice for this program, in 1972 and 1987. Click here to listen to the 1987 interview on the BBC site. Many of the series interviews are available free of charge on iTunes in the Desert Island Disc podcast series.

Your author created an iPod playlist of Mr. Bennett’s desert island choices, and is enjoying it very much.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Monday, December 10, 2012 is The Way You Look Tonight. We feature this duet with Thalia to acknowledge Mr. Bennett’s concert appearance in Mexico City.

About The Way You Look Tonight

This song was written by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, for the 1936 film Swing Time. The song was introduced by the great Fred Astaire and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

This version is from Mr. Bennett’s newest album, Viva Duets, featuring duets with Latin artists. This duet is with the Mexican superstar, Thalia.

The Way You Look Tonight, as well as the entire Viva Duets album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Regresa A Mi

The song of the day for Sunday, December 9, 2012 is Regresa A Mi (Return to Me).

About Regresa A Mi

Return to Me was written in 1957 by Carmen Lombardo (brother of bandleader Guy Lombardo) and Danny DiMinno. In January 1958, Dean Martin did the first recording of the song and the song still remains associated with Dean Martin. In fact, the second box set of Dean Martin was entitled Return to Me.

About This Version

As Tony Bennett’s Latin American tour heads to Mexico, we are happy to present this wonderful duet with Mr. Bennett and Vicente Fernández. The song was recorded at Vincente Fernández’ studio at his ranch in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Regresa A Mi, as well the album Viva Duets, is available from iTunes.

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Feliz Navidad con los Nuestros … Tony Bennett sus Amigos: Rescheduled

RESCHEDULED:  We’re happy to announce that Feliz Navidad has been rescheduled by Univision and will be seen on Sunday, December 23, at 9:00pm EST. Be sure to check your local listings!

TONY BENNETT  PRESENTS PRIMETIME HOLIDAY SPECIAL “FELIZ NAVIDAD CON LOS NUESTROS…TONY BENNETT Y SUS AMIGOS”ON UNIVISION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9TH AT 9PM EST // CONTINUES EXTENSIVE TOUR OF LATIN AMERICA

“Tony Bennett and a night to remember El mítico crooner se presentó a sala llena en el Gran Re… with the special participation of Vicentico, who took the stage to sing a duet on “Cold, Cold Heart.,” …The legendary crooner performed to a full house at the Grand Rex”  – CIEN RADIO

“Tony Bennett and his big night in Buenos Aires:  The legendary American singer was presented to a full house at theGrand Rex. La noche fue perfecta para presentar a dúo junto a Vicentico — “Cold, Cold Heart” , tema que forma parte de su último trabajoViva Duets . The night was perfect for presenting a duet with Vicentico – “Cold, Cold Heart,” a song that is part of his latest Viva Duets” – LA VIOLA / TN.COM 

Following critically praised shows In Brazil And Argentina, The Global Ambassador of the Great American Songbook now moves on to upcoming shows in Chile, Mexico City And Puerto Rico:

December 08   –  Santiago, Chile  –  Teatro Municipal
December 10 & 11   –  Mexico City, Mexico   –  Metropolitan Theatre
December 13   –  San Juan, Puerto Rico   –  Bellas Artes

Here In The United States, This Sunday (December 9th) Will See TONY BENNETT Star In A Landmark Bilingual TV Special, As He Becomes The First Non-Latino Performer With A Primetime Special On Univision at 9pm EST

“FELIZ NAVIDAD CON LOS NUESTROS…TONY BENNETT Y SUS AMIGOS” will be hosted by Giselle Blondett. The one-hour TV special will give an inside look at the recording of his critically praised  VIVA DUETS album, featuring segments with Marc Anthony, Romeo Santos, Vicente Fernandez, Thalía, Juan Luis Guerra and more. The special will also highlight solo performances of two classics and unveil newly recorded duets with Shaila Durcal and Armando Manzanero – including a heartfelt rendition of “Silent Night” to usher in the holiday season.