Tony Bennett

Well known for hit ballads like "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" (a come back hit released in 1962), and "Rags to Riches" (released in 1954).

Was a close friend of Frank Sinatra.

Bob Hope suggested Tony change his stage name from "Joe Bari" to "Tony Bennett."

On May 20, 2002, he received the Pied Piper lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

In 2001 he founded The Frank Sinatra High School of Performing Arts in Queens, NY, named after his long-time friend Frank Sinatra.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997.

He is an accomplished painter with an art studio in New York City, USA.

Recipient of the 2005 Kennedy Center Honors. Other recipients were Robert Redford , Tina Turner , Suzanne Farrell , and Julie Harris.

Despite his hit ballad song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," he was actually born in New York.

His daughter Antonia Bennett has sung alongside her father since the age of four.

Founded, with his wife Susan Crow, the charitable organization "Exploring the Arts".

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo and his wife, Matilda Cuomo, were witnesses to the civil ceremony between Tony & Susan Crow.

On Jan. 4, 2007, he sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the celebrations for the inauguration of Nancy Pelosi as first female Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1560 Vine St.

He was inducted into the 2011 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Arts and Entertainment Industry.

His chance to perform at the Triborough Bridge opening in 1936 was arranged by his uncle Frank, the Queens Borough library commissioner. There he stood next to and received pats on the head from legendary Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.

When 85-year-old Bennetts album "Duets II" topped the Billboard 200 chart in September of 2011 he became the oldest living artist in history to capture the peak position. The record had previously been held by Bob Dylan , whose "Together Through Life" debuted at #1 when Dylan was 67. In September 2014 Bennett broke his own record at age 88 when his duet album "Cheek to Cheek" with Lady Gaga also debuted at #1.

Signs his paintings/portraits simply "Benedetto", his birth name.

In 2011 his Belvedere mansion--9500 sq.ft / 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 7-car parking) went on sale with an asking price of $27.5 million.

With his 15th and 16th wins at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards--Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (with Amy Winehouse ) for "Body and Soul" and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "Duets II"--Bennett captured the record for the longest Grammy participation span of 49 years between wins.

Father, with Patricia Beech, of son Danny Bennett , who is also Tonys manager.

In 2011 when he recorded "Body and Soul" with Amy Winehouse for his "Duets II" album, it would mark her final recording before her untimely death. The age gap between both artists was just over 57 years.

As of November 2010 he was living in Englewood, NJ, USA.

Tonys duet with wunderkind Jackie Evancho on "When You Wish Upon a Star" marked a unique collaboration, considering the age gap between both artists was over 73 years.

His favorite movie is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre .

Lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party.

Nearly died after overdosing on cocaine in 1979.

Friends with Ella Fitzgerald , Harry Belafonte , Martin Luther King , Florence Henderson , Angela Lansbury , Julie London , and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Winner of the 2017 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

[about his military service during World War II] It gave me a social,conscience. And the war itself made me a pacifist; I just know that,every gun in the world should melt somehow and as soon as possible. But,that looks impossible now.

It gives me unbelievable subjects to study and paint.

[in 2014] The songs that are written today, most of them are terrible.

The British House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians.

Sinatra invited me once to his birthday party in L. A. I was young, and I felt great about it. But when I got there, the Rat Pack were all in the kitchen laughing their heads off.