If anyone can be considered a true American treasure, it's Tony Bennett, whose 90th birthday is August 3. He's also a mensch who remains remarkably humble about his unique talent.
In 2002 I did an extended interview with him about his then-current release, Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. He talked eloquently about his peers (B.B. King, Ray Charles), his heroes (Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday), and a younger generation he admires (Stevie Wonder, k.d. lang). He also gave a master class on the art of singing and the American popular songbook.
I aired highlights of our conversation on today's Sunday Supper and I invite you to enjoy them here.
Photo by PC Kelsey, PR