It can be argued that the words icon and legend are overused these days. But they are an appropriate way to describe Tony Bennett, who died on Friday in his home city of New York just short of his 97th birthday. This gifted vocalist first recorded, under a different name, all the way back in 1949, and he released his most recent album of new material in the 2020s. He broke numerous Guinness world records and received many awards and accolades.
On Monday, I’ll merely scratch the surface with a one hour tribute to Tony Bennett. We’ll hear some of his music, and learn how there was every chance he was going to be just another washed-up singer who would be fondly remembered but who had no further relevance. His recovery from existential crisis to become one of the most timeless musical performers is an inspiring story.
You can hear my Tony Bennett Tribute twice, in Monday’s Mosen Explosion slot. It will first be broadcast on Monday at 2 AM Eastern, 7 AM in the UK, and 6 PM in New Zealand. It will then be heard again 12 hours later. You can check the schedule page on the Mushroom Fm site to find out when it is in your time zone.
A salute to the incomparable Tony Bennett, coming up on Monday on Mushroom Fm.