Tony Bennett Polishes 'San Francisco' Gem
John McDonough
Friday, December 1, 2006 at 3:00 PM
Comments
Font size: A | A | A | A

Tony Bennett appears onstage earlier this month at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre during a show celebrating his 80th birthday.

Tony Bennett appears onstage earlier this month at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre during a show celebrating his 80th birthday.

Vince Bucci / Getty Images


Singer Tony Bennett originally recorded "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" in 1962, and has sung it at every performance since. We go inside the studio with Bennett as he re-records his signature song.

Tony Bennett Polishes 'San Francisco' Gem

Tony Bennett Polishes 'San Francisco' Gem

Vince Bucci/Getty Images


Related Links

On his new CD, Duets: An American Classic, Tony Bennett performs with a procession of younger performers, including the Dixie Chicks, Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder, Sting and George Michael.

But one track that he sings solo is "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," his signature tune.

Bennett, who turned 80 this year, originally recorded the song in 1962. He has sung it at every performance since then.

In the new version, Bennett and record producer Phil Ramone pted for old-fashioned simplicity: just Bennett and pianist Bill Charlap in a softly lit studio in Englewood, N.J.

During the recording session, Bennett gets his voice loose and his mind ready for the task — and works his musical magic.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


Filed in:


Also in Music  

News updates from WGBH

See a sample »

   


rss icon
Follow

WGBH News Special Coverage: ELECTION 2012 from NPR

WGBH Spring Auction 2013


Vehicle donation (June 2012) 89.7

News Categories