Tony Bennett Biography

Fast Facts

• Founded the organization Exploring the Arts in 1999 in an effort to increase arts programs in public schools
• Presented with the 2006 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Award
• Received a 2005 Kennedy Center Honor
• Received the 2017 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
• Began singing professionaly at 13 as a singing waiter across New York City
• Quote: "Life is a gift, and it's a blessing to just be alive․ And each person should learn what a gift it is to be alive no matter how tough things get․"
• Quote: "I've never worked a day in my life because I have a passion to sing and paint․ The whole idea is to keep improving all the time, because you're only as good as your next show․"
• Took early musical inspiration from James Durante, Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby
• Integrated jazz-style phrasing into his singing and imitated instrumental solos with his voice
• Had painted works on display in multiple public institutions under the name Anthony Benedetto
• Participated in the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches with Dr․ Martin Luther King, Jr
• Became one the oldest living artists to top the Billboard 200 chart with the "Duets II" album at 85 years old