November 3, 1951, 75 years ago: Tony Bennett succeeds himself at Number 1 on Billboard magazine's popular music singles chart, the leading survey of the era, as his recording of "Because of You" gives way to his recording of "Cold, Cold Heart."
It was the first exposure outside the South for the latter song's writer, Hank Williams. Hank called Tony and asked, "Tony, why did you ruin my song?" Hank had to assure him he was only joking: He loved it.
Born in Queens on August 3, 1926, Anthony Benedetto served in the U.S. Army, and saw combat near the end of World War II. "Because of You" was his 1st big hit. It was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein (son of composer Oscar Hammerstein I and nephew of composer Oscar Hammerstein II) and Dudley Wilkinson. It was not a hit then, but it became one in 1951 because of its use in the film I Was an American Spy.
After "Cold, Cold Heart," Bennett hit Number 1 again in 1953 with "Rags to Riches," and kept singing standards in the "Big Band" style, even as rock and roll took over, becoming a regular on The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1962, he recorded George Cory and Douglass Cross' song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," and while it only reached Number 19 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart (which replaced its former chart in 1958), it became one of the most beloved songs of the 1960s, and his signature song.
In 1970, upon the advice of Columbia Records' Clive Davis, he recorded Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today! It flopped. He spent the 1970s going around record companies, and developed a cocaine addiction. His son Danny realized that they had opposite problems: Tony could sing, but couldn't handle the business side of things; while Danny had a head for business, but had no luck performing with his rock band. So Danny became Tony's manager, and got him clean. By 1986, Tony was back with Columbia and recording successful albums.
Tony began the trend of older singers recording standards in "Great American Songbook" albums, including one of songs associated with Frank Sinatra in 1992, titled Perfectly Frank. Sinatra returned the compliment by calling Tony his favorite singer. In 2008, Billy Joel invited him to the stage at the last concert at Queens' Shea Stadium, and he sang "New York State of Mind."
Tony began recording with up-to-date performers like Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and, in his final records, Lady Gaga. He and Gaga, both New Yorkers of Italian descent, born 60 years apart, adored each other.
He never intended to retire, but had to in 2021, at the age of 95, as he had become frail and had begun decline into dementia, having trouble remembering lyrics as he was recording them. He died on July 21, 2023, shortly before what would have been his 97th birthday.
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