The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Love For Sale available for pre-order

Love For Sale, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s new album, is now available for pre-order.

Lady Gaga on Twitter: "The day we released "Cheek To Cheek" in 2014, @itstonybennett called me and asked me if I wanted to record another album with him, this time celebrating the songs of Cole Porter. I"m always honored to sing with my friend Tony, so of course I accepted the invitation. / Twitter"

The day we released "Cheek To Cheek" in 2014, @itstonybennett called me and asked me if I wanted to record another album with him, this time celebrating the songs of Cole Porter. I"m always honored to sing with my friend Tony, so of course I accepted the invitation.

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Just announced: "Love For Sale" with @ladygaga will be released October 1.Pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now:Pre-order: https://t.co/7Qp2K9M9BQListen: https://t.co/I0ANs8VNeg pic.twitter.com/z5NpyXGfZS / Twitter"

Just announced: "Love For Sale" with @ladygaga will be released October 1.Pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now:Pre-order: https://t.co/7Qp2K9M9BQListen: https://t.co/I0ANs8VNeg pic.twitter.com/z5NpyXGfZS

Lady Gaga on Twitter: "Today, I am so excited to announce that our new album "Love For Sale" will be released October 1. You can pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now!Pre-order: https://t.co/x4phqHuwlVListen: https://t.co/Mq8vZBeWVz pic.twitter.com/7O4T5BH57m / Twitter"

Today, I am so excited to announce that our new album "Love For Sale" will be released October 1. You can pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now!Pre-order: https://t.co/x4phqHuwlVListen: https://t.co/Mq8vZBeWVz pic.twitter.com/7O4T5BH57m

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Birthday Greetings

I wasn’t surprised to wake up this morning to Facebook and Twitter full of birthday greetings to Tony Bennett. Here are some of them, in case you missed them today.

Lady Gaga on Twitter: "Today is @itstonybennett"s 95th birthday! To celebrate him and the love all of his fans have for him, I"m making a special video with 95 Reasons Gaga, Little Monsters, and Bennett Monsters Love Tony! pic.twitter.com/nBvUrgY4dX / Twitter"

Today is @itstonybennett"s 95th birthday! To celebrate him and the love all of his fans have for him, I"m making a special video with 95 Reasons Gaga, Little Monsters, and Bennett Monsters Love Tony! pic.twitter.com/nBvUrgY4dX

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Lots of love to Robert De Niro, too. Thanks for the birthday message. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/4s1go2EApa / Twitter"

Lots of love to Robert De Niro, too. Thanks for the birthday message. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/4s1go2EApa

Katie Couric on Twitter: "Happy 95th birthday @itstonybennett! We love you xoxoxo ❤️😊🎉 https://t.co/BEcot3Nj5j / Twitter"

Happy 95th birthday @itstonybennett! We love you xoxoxo ❤️😊🎉 https://t.co/BEcot3Nj5j

James Taylor on Twitter: "Put on a happy face... and help us with a very happy 95th birthday to the amazing @ItsTonyBennett! 🎂 🎉📷 @LutchPhoto pic.twitter.com/exOT0Fbq3H / Twitter"

Put on a happy face... and help us with a very happy 95th birthday to the amazing @ItsTonyBennett! 🎂 🎉📷 @LutchPhoto pic.twitter.com/exOT0Fbq3H

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Thanks to another fellow New Yorker, Steve Buscemi for the birthday message! #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/RFplnqfS1N / Twitter"

Thanks to another fellow New Yorker, Steve Buscemi for the birthday message! #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/RFplnqfS1N

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Had to share this card from a fellow artist. Thank you @johntravo_ for the birthday wishes 🎂 #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/qyi0kfEO7H / Twitter"

Had to share this card from a fellow artist. Thank you @johntravo_ for the birthday wishes 🎂 #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/qyi0kfEO7H

Jon Bon Jovi on Twitter: "I get a kick out of @itstonybennett, the greatest of the greats. #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/Pmug7IjKBk / Twitter"

I get a kick out of @itstonybennett, the greatest of the greats. #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/Pmug7IjKBk

Carole King on Twitter: "Wishing @itstonybennett a very happy 95th birthday! pic.twitter.com/U5wOBhN8Vw / Twitter"

Wishing @itstonybennett a very happy 95th birthday! pic.twitter.com/U5wOBhN8Vw

Natalie Cole on Twitter: "Happy 95th Birthday to the Incomparable @itstonybennett 🎊. Here are some memorable moments of Natalie and Tony at the 50th Grammy Awards and Natalie"s 60th birthday celebration. pic.twitter.com/jYWKF46jU2 / Twitter"

Happy 95th Birthday to the Incomparable @itstonybennett 🎊. Here are some memorable moments of Natalie and Tony at the 50th Grammy Awards and Natalie"s 60th birthday celebration. pic.twitter.com/jYWKF46jU2

Nat King Cole on Twitter: "Happy Birthday to @itstonybennett -- he turns 95 today! Tony was a guest on the Nat King Cole show in 1957 on October 1, when he was just 31 years old. Happy birthday!#NatKingCole #TonyBennett #Happy95Tony #TonyBennettDay pic.twitter.com/BBZmllqyd8 / Twitter"

Happy Birthday to @itstonybennett -- he turns 95 today! Tony was a guest on the Nat King Cole show in 1957 on October 1, when he was just 31 years old. Happy birthday!#NatKingCole #TonyBennett #Happy95Tony #TonyBennettDay pic.twitter.com/BBZmllqyd8

Stevie Van Zandt on Twitter: "Happy Birthday Tony! ⁦@itstonybennett⁩ pic.twitter.com/RoEfgrxc3b / Twitter"

Happy Birthday Tony! ⁦@itstonybennett⁩ pic.twitter.com/RoEfgrxc3b

Barbra Streisand on Twitter: "Dear @ItsTonyBennett - You always make me "Smile!" Happiest birthday wishes! xo B #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/geHsgVaBgR / Twitter"

Dear @ItsTonyBennett - You always make me "Smile!" Happiest birthday wishes! xo B #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/geHsgVaBgR

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Doesn"t get much cooler than Bono & The Edge singing #IGetAKickOutOfYou on my birthday! Thanks, @U2 #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/gJONVRCw5V / Twitter"

Doesn"t get much cooler than Bono & The Edge singing #IGetAKickOutOfYou on my birthday! Thanks, @U2 #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/gJONVRCw5V

Cyndi Lauper on Twitter: "Happy Birthday @itstonybennett! And Happy #TonyBennettDay! 💗🥂https://t.co/PW59XRSIkl / Twitter"

Happy Birthday @itstonybennett! And Happy #TonyBennettDay! 💗🥂https://t.co/PW59XRSIkl

Billy Joel on Twitter: "Happy birthday to @itstonybennett!"I get a kick out of Tony Bennett because he sings "New York State of Mind" better than anyone - including me." - Billy Joel 📸: @MyrnaSuarez25 📍: @TheGarden pic.twitter.com/yvMiWEknwc / Twitter"

Happy birthday to @itstonybennett!"I get a kick out of Tony Bennett because he sings "New York State of Mind" better than anyone - including me." - Billy Joel 📸: @MyrnaSuarez25 📍: @TheGarden pic.twitter.com/yvMiWEknwc

Paul McCartney on Twitter: "Happy 95th birthday, @itstonybennett! #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/M0a4HMC9Cg / Twitter"

Happy 95th birthday, @itstonybennett! #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/M0a4HMC9Cg

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "It"s officially #TonyBennettDay in NY! As a lifetime New Yorker of now 95 years, this is an honor. Thanks to New York State. pic.twitter.com/jGq7yL561F / Twitter"

It"s officially #TonyBennettDay in NY! As a lifetime New Yorker of now 95 years, this is an honor. Thanks to New York State. pic.twitter.com/jGq7yL561F

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "And an extra thank you to @SonyMusicEnt who have endowed a park bench in my honor today for New Yorkers to enjoy my most cherished place, Central Park. As the plaque says: "Nature is the boss" 🌳 pic.twitter.com/uaDdU3Qx6u / Twitter"

And an extra thank you to @SonyMusicEnt who have endowed a park bench in my honor today for New Yorkers to enjoy my most cherished place, Central Park. As the plaque says: "Nature is the boss" 🌳 pic.twitter.com/uaDdU3Qx6u

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "A birthday note from @officialkeef - you are another true leader. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/IYych63del / Twitter"

A birthday note from @officialkeef - you are another true leader. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/IYych63del

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Thanks to a dear friend, @AlecBaldwln____ for your birthday video. 🎂 #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/dEHviDxC6b / Twitter"

Thanks to a dear friend, @AlecBaldwln____ for your birthday video. 🎂 #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/dEHviDxC6b

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Tony

I am saddened to learn that Tony Bennett has Alzheimer’s Disease. His family made the announcement today. CBS did this story

Tony Bennett is battling Alzheimer"s disease, but singing "is saving him," his wife says

CBS News The family of 18-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett is opening up about a secret they"ve kept for more than four years. In an article Monday morning in AARP The Magazine, they reveal Bennett is battling Alzheimer"s disease, which robs people of their memories and cognitive functions.

This AARP Magazine story broke the news and is well worth your time to read.

Tony Bennett"s Battle With Alzheimer"s Disease

Neuroscience even today cannot explain how a man whose speaking voice has become so hesitant - whose memory of events, people and places has largely vanished - can, at the sound of a musical cue, lift his voice in song with such beauty and expression, except to say that music and singing emerge, as Levitin has pointed out, from areas of the brain quite distinct from those associated with speech and language.

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 21, 2019, is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the life and music of William James Basie, who was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. In addition to his fine work on the piano, Count Basie was one of best and longest-lasting big band leaders. He founded the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935 and that orchestra is still playing today. Some of America’s finest jazz musicians played with Basie, including Buck Clayton, Lester Young, Thad Jones, Jo J0nes, Buddy Rich, and Paul Gonsalves are just a few of former members of the Count Basie Orchestra. Harold Jones, called Count Basie’s favorite drummer, currently plays in Tony Bennett’s quartet.

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter, for the 1940 BRoadway musical Cabin in the Sky, where it was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and Dizzy Gillespie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Taking a Chance on Love” in 1958 for his second album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, In Person!, released in 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Taking A Chance On Love

Listen to Taking A Chance On Love on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1959.

“Taking a Chance on Love,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

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