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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 10, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Congratulations, Mr. Bennett!

https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/278178089681432577

 

Filed Under: Life is a Gift Tagged With: Life is a Gift, New York Times Bestseller List

December 3, 2012 By Suzanne 2 Comments

My Thoughts on Life Is A Gift: The Zen of Bennett

While reading Life Is A Gift the day it arrived, I had to stop for a moment to slow down. I was reading too fast; I wanted to take it slower. In that pause, I texted my co-blogger Lesley, who was also reading the book , that “I was living the book.” That was a typo, I meant to say that I was loving the book.

But now I don’t think it was a typo. I am living the book. Or trying to, to the best of my ability.

I admire Tony Bennett for sharing these stories from his life. And not just the good and positive things about his life; he is equally frank about the downturns and loss as well. It takes bravery to share all that with us. But more importantly, it takes enormous wisdom to learn from those experiences. Making mistakes is part of the human condition; learning from them is a form of courage.

When I have gone to see Mr. Bennett in concert, I have felt the love between the performer and the audience. In Seattle, almost exactly a year ago, a woman who I had never met cried from joy, on my shoulder, throughout the concert (alas, her husband wasn’t feeling the emotion). When Tony Bennett sings, he’s as emotionally real and honest and giving as anyone can possibly be. And now, in Life is a Gift, he tells us the stories from his life that have shaped him and made it possible to sing and paint with such integrity and honesty.

He says that “when you can give yourself up to love, you’re ahead of the game.” For almost everyone I know, being able to do that is one the hardest things to ask one to do. So many of us go through life with our hearts boxed away to prevent being hurt. Tony Bennett, who has seen and experienced so much pain–from losing his father to fighting in World War Two to almost losing touch with his sons–is able to acknowledge that pain and yet can approach everything he does with love. It takes enormous bravery to be so open.

I once worked with a gifted theatre director who told me “You don’t do this because you want to. You do this because you have to.” Mr. Bennett is so clear in his passion for both painting and singing and not being able to imagine doing anything else. This passion for painting and music clearly defines who he is. I can only be grateful that I am able to see him in concert, buy his albums and save up to perhaps buy one of his watercolors. Because his sharing his art and music is a gift as well. To us, for sure, and maybe for him too.

If we can learn anything from Mr. Bennett, though, it would be to emulate his often-stated desire to learn something every day, to sing better every time, to always be a student. Even at the very top of his game, he still is looking for a new phrasing for a song and changes to arrangements. At the age of 86, Mr. Bennett is taking sculpture lessons–learning a new art form.

His advice to young singers is so important. He’s teaching us how that how we live: with love, honesty and attention to our craft is always more important than quick success and a large paycheck. It’s not about being rich and famous; it’s about respecting and honoring the gifts that we’ve been given. And, most importantly, to live in the moment, in the now.

Life is indeed a gift. This book is a loving gift as well. It’s a portrait of an artist. But like the Rembrandt self-portrait at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this book is looking back at us and asking us who we are.

Filed Under: Books, Life is a Gift Tagged With: Life is a Gift, Life is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett, The Zen of Bennett

November 16, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Tony Bennett Interviews and Appearances for Life is a Gift

With the publication of Life Is A Gift: The Zen of Bennett on Monday, November 20k, 2012, Mr. Bennett has several TV and radio interviews scheduled, as well as book signings in the New York area.

And, as they say, check your local listings for times. NPR and some of the television programs offer internet viewing/listening of their programming.

Monday, 11/19/12

Release: The Zen of Bennett DVD available for purchase

Today Show on NBC
Click here to view the interview with Matt Lauer.

Katie Couric Show
Click here to view a recap of Katie’s show today, including her interview with Sally Field. Mr. Bennett appears in the second half of the show.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Click here to view the segment.

Barnes and Noble Union Square book signing (with Mitch Albom)
Article about the Barnes and Noble Discussion with Mitch Albom from The Examiner

Tuesday, 11/20/12

Release: Life Is a Gift is published

NPR Talk of the Nation
Click here to listen to the interview

Hudson Union Society

Wednesday, 11/21/12

CBS This Morning
Click here to view this great interview!

Mitch Albom Radio Show
Replay not yet available; please check back later.

Thursday, 11/22/12

Thanksgiving Day. A day off.

Friday, 11/23/12

Bookends talk and signing in Ridgeway, New Jersey

Saturday, 11/24/12

Book Revue talk and signing in Huntington New York

Monday, 11/26/12

Good Day New York

CNN Interview with Soledad O’Brien

WNYC Interview with Leonard Lopate

All I can say is that I’m a few decades younger than Mr. Bennett and I’m tired from just trying to blog about his many activities!

And don’t forget: his tour of Latin America starts on November 29th in Rio de Janeiro. Have a great tour!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Barnes and Noble book signing, CBS This Morning, CNN, Katie Couric Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Life is a Gift, Mitch Albom Radio Show, NPR Talk of the Nation, Soledad O'Brien, Thanksgiving 2012, Today Show

November 15, 2012 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Life is a Gift: News, Reviews and Previews

As Life is a Gift: The Zen Of Bennett nears its official publication date of November 20, 2012,  we’ll be providing links to news about the film, article and reviews, and other information.

This book is available in numerous formats from major retailers. These formats include:

Hardback   Amazon  Barnes and Noble

Paperback – Large Print   Amazon

Audible Audio Book (narrated by actor Joe Mantega)  Audible  (PDF file of photographs and sketches available for download at Audible)

Regular Kindle Version  Amazon

Enhanced Kindle Version (with audio and video)   Amazon

Nook  Barnes and Noble

iBooks  iTunes Bookstore

Click here to view the Harper Collins web page for Life Is A Gift: The Zen of Bennett.

News

Toronto Sun Interview  November 21

Women’s Wear Daily   November 15

USA Today  November 14

Reviews

Associated Press  (via The Washington Post)

Previews

Filed Under: Life is a Gift Tagged With: Life is a Gift

October 15, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Life is a Gift Book Tour Announced

Harper Collins has announced book tour dates for Tony Bennett’s upcoming book Life is a Gift, which will be released in hardback, electronic book and audiobook formats on November 11, 2012.

This book is available for pre-order from many bookstores, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

The Year of Tony Bennett is very excited about the publication of this book!

Filed Under: Books, Life is a Gift Tagged With: Harper Collins, Life is a Gift

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