Tony Bennett Tickets

Tony Bennett News and Information Like many popular music artists from the ''50s and ''60s, Tony Bennett suffered throughout the rock era when his kind became rare - however, his voice and personality allowed him to make a remarkable comeback in the ''80s, keeping him on the top of the game through today.

Bennett grew up in Queens, NY, and began performing at the tender age of 10. He studied music and painting at the High School of Industrial Art, and his first paying performances as a signing waiter in a number of Queen Italian restaurants.

Bennett was drafted into the United States Army in 1944, and after fighting on the front lines in World War II he studied at the American Theater Wing on the GI Bill. The singer began his career singing commercial pop songs - his first big hit was "Because of You.” His good looks and silky voice clearly became a hit among female music fans - when he got married in 1952, 2,000 girls stood outside of the ceremony, dressed in black as a sign of mourning.

Eventually, Bennett made a shift to a show tunes sound, including up-tempo big band tracks. While acts such as Elvis Presley were ushering in the rock and roll era in the middle of Bennetts success, he managed to remain popular for some time, based somewhat on his growing reputation as a nightclub act.

Bennett enjoyed success through 1965, but then popularity in his type of music fell and he struggled with substance abuse until a near-fatal cocaine overdose in 1979. After hitting rock bottom, it was decided that his son, Danny Bennett, would become his manager. This was a great success - Danny moved him away from his "Vegas” image by booking him in small theaters, and eventually he released "The Art of Excellence” in 1986 - it was his first album to chart since 1972.

Through the mid-''80s, Danny didnt want to change his fathers image, but wanted to reach out to a younger audience - it worked, and he became popular with the MTV generation after appearing on a number of shows for the network. The New York Times said that he, "not just bridged the generation gap, he has demolished it.” Bennett was even featured on an MTV Unplugged - the album went platinum.

Bennett continued to see success through the 21st century. In 2006, at the age of 80, he released "Duets: An American Classic.” The album was very popular and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.