Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett credits Bob Hope with discovering him in 1949. Bob Hope liked his singing so much in a small club in Greenwich Village, that after the show he asked Tony to come to the Paramount and sing with him.

Tony won the 2007 Emmy for "Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program" for his show Tony Bennett: An American Classic.

Tony married longtime girlfriend Susan Crow on June 21, 2007 in a private ceremony in New York City. It is the third marriage for Tony, and the first for Susan.

Tony's dislike of the Army's policy of racial segregation was a major reason for his not re-enlisting after his service in World War II.

Tony now has a theatrical musical revue of his songs, "I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett," and it showcases some of his most popular songs including: "I Left My Heart in San Fransisco", "Because of You", and "Wonderful".

Tony has his own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, at 1560 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA.

Tony's artwork was featured in his book "Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen," in 1996.

(September 2006) Tony will be releasing an album of duets, singing with various popular vocalists, including Barbara Streisand, George Michael, Bono, Billy Joel, and Celine Dion.

Tony is an accomplished artist and sculptor. He signs his works with Bendetto, his birth name. Examples of his work include his "Heart Left In San Fransisco," a sculpture of a heart in San Fransisco's Union Bay Square, paintings that have been commissioned by the Kentucky Derby and the United Nations, and works such as "Tribute To Hockney," a painting dedicated to his friend David Hockney on permanent display at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio and his "Boy on Sailboat, Sydney Bay" at the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park in New York.

Tony's daughter, Antonia, is also a jazz singer.

Tony was the first white singer to perform with Count Basie's Orchestra.

Tony's Grammy Awards include:
-1962 for 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' - Male Vocalist.
-1962 for 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' - Best Record
-1994 for 'MTV Unplugged' - Best Becord)
-1994 for 'MTV Unplugged' - Traditional Pop Vocal
-1997 for 'Tony Bennett On Holiday' - Traditional Performance

Tony was honored with the NEA Jazz Master award in 1997.

Tony has sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Tony worked as a singing waiter in Italian restauraunts when he was a teenager.

Tony's first public singing appearance was when he was almost 10 years old, at the opening of the opening of the Triborough Bridge, in New York City, on July 11, 1936.

Tony served in WWII in the Army as a replacement infantryman, going through France and Germany, and was involved in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Lansberg.

Tony was honored at the Kennedy Center for lifetime contributions to the arts on December 4, 2005.

Tony and his girlfriend Susan founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, a public high school dedicated to teaching the performing arts, in 2001.

Tony was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in 2002.

Tony was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997.

Tony released his biography, "The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett," in 1998.

Tony won the ACE award in 1996 for 'Outstanding Performance In A Musical Special Or Series' for his work in "Tony Bennett Live by Request: A Valentine's Special." (1996)

Tony was nominated for the Golden Laurel award for 'New Male Face Of The Year' in 1966.

Tony won the Emmy in 1996 for 'Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program,' for his work on "Tony Bennett Live by Request: A Valentine's Special." (1996)