TONY BENNETT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION

Tony Bennett needs no introduction. He may have left his heart in San Francisco, his signature song, but this legend is global and bridges the generation gap. He has had a non-stop journey of accomplishments and at 87, he recently completed “Duets: An American Classic”  CD with such luminaries as Lady GaGa, Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban to name a few, that has sold more copies than any album in his career. He is the oldest Number One Performer.

We would all aspire to be like Tony Bennett…a consummate artist and performer whose unpretentious style and consistent pursuit of excellence has led to his success.

One would think he has always led a charmed life. Yet, there was a time in his career where he had a change in fortune.

IN 1964

In 1964, with the competition of the Beatles and the influx of Rock and Roll, he was struggling with the change in the public’s taste in music. His singing career took a downturn and he left Columbia Records. He began using cocaine and marijuana, he separated from his first wife and, his debts grew to the point of bankruptcy with the IRS trying to seize his home in LA. I don’t know about you, but I was shocked to hear this but, impressed that the power of an unbreakable spirit led him to overcome his challenges.

A near death experience, passing out in a bath tub, scared Bennett into changing his habits. In this defining moment in his life most people would have landed in an abyss never to be heard from again.

TONY’S STRONG INNER DYNAMICS

Tony’s strong inner dynamics and resilience rejuvenated his career. How you may say? What he was doing wasn’t working and he figured out another way. He brought back his original style, he hired his son Danny as his manager and, he went back to Columbia Records. Tony staged a strong comeback and has been moving the hearts and souls of his audience ever since.

Tony Bennett said recently, “I will never retire, I will keep performing because I love it.”

And we love you Tony Bennett…thank you for your inspiration and teaching us that life will have detours and…it’s not what happens, it’s what we do about it that shapes our destiny.

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Tony Bennett’s latest book “Life is a Gift” is a moving and inspiring memoir from one of the greatest musical artists of all time.” His given name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto, and Benedetto in Italian means ‘the blessed one.’ I think you will agree, we have been blessed.