Tony Bennett, the legendary Grammy-winning singer, philanthropist, and New York City icon, passed away last week at the age of 96. The Queens-born entertainer leaves behind one of the greatest songbooks in American history and a legacy that will live on forever. From classic hits like, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and “The Way You Look Tonight,” to his newer collaborations with modern artists, like Lady Gaga, Bennett combined pop and jazz to bring the sounds of the past with him into the forefront of popular music. In 2017, Jack Ford interviewed Tony Bennett along with his wife Susan Benedetto. Tonight, we return fondly to that conversation, and we reflect on Bennett’s incredible career, which spanned over 70 years. We also look back on Tony Bennett’s lifetime of service, which led to the founding of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, in Astoria, Queens, to help bring high-quality arts education to thousands of students from across New York City.
