An American Treasure – Tony Bennett

Even at 83 years old, fifteen time Grammy Award winning singer Tony Bennett still sounds great.  And his upcoming August concert at Wolf Trap is a chance to see one of America’s best song men.

Following in the paths of singers such as Frank Sinatra, Bennett built his career singing as the first pop singer to sign with the Count Basie Orchestra. Two albums were the result including Basie Swings, Bennett Sings in 1958. His career grew as he toured night clubs and lounges across the country,ending up as a Las Vegas headliner.

With an appearance on the first night of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson giving him television ass audiences and hits such as “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “The Best Is Yet To Come” and his signature number, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” Bennett’s success was locked.

But by 1965, the British invasion brought the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and and other rock music to America’s youth and the 1960s Sinatra lounge style singer quickly faded from popularity.

By the end of the 1970s, Bennett had lost all of his money, owed the IRS back taxes, had no hope of a record contract, and became addicted to cocaine.  He reached out to his sons for help who in part helped him quit his addiction, and within 5 years had gotten him out of Las Vegas, back to New York and gigs playing smaller venues and colleges.

He was able to get spots on Late Night with David Letterman, the MTV Video Music Awards and was booked on MTV’s Unplugged series. By being exposed to a new generation of audiences, Bennett’s popularity was reborn.  It was written that Tony didn’t bridge the generation gap with his reborn appeal to a younger set in the 1990s, that he demolished it.

His 1995 album from the MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett performance went platinum and won a Grammy for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.  Since then he’s been playing over 100 shows a year.

Expect to hear from a list of Bennett’s songbook spanning 60 years that include such classics such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “The Very Thought of You,” and “I’ve Gotta Be Me.”

Tony Bennett – Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182  (map)

Tickets – Lawn tickets – $325.00, all reserved seats are $48.00.  Tickets are available online, by phone 877-965-3872 or at the Wolf Trap box office.

Dates and Hours – Wolf Trap’s Filene Center open 90 minutes prior to the scheduled show time, with a few exceptions.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – West Falls Church – Orange line, then take the Wolf Trap shuttle bus for $5.00 round trip, or $4.50 with a Metro SmarTrip card.  Exact fare is required for the shuttle bus.

Parking – Free parking in the parking multiple lots.

Image: Flickr – Tony Bennett