Tony Bennett in the Studio

Every one of Tony’s millions of devoted fans will treasure this definitive volume.
Tony Bennett, the world’s most beloved living legend, has a talent that’s simply timeless. He’s the smooth and subtle singer of the classic American songbook, the recipient of countless Grammy® awards and nominations, an Emmy Award®, and a Kennedy Center Honoree. The Library of Congress bestowed a Living Legend Award on him in 2000, the National Endowment for the Arts named him a Jazz Master in January of 2006, and he just received Billboard magazine’s prestigious Century Award for his outstanding contributions to music. Contemporary singers such as Bono, Sting, Diana Krall, John Legend, and the Dixie Chicks idolize him. Recently, Bennett turned 80 and he has celebrated this milestone with the same joie de vivre with which he celebrates life in general; he’s at the height of his popularity, thanks to the bestselling album Duets and a brilliantly conceived TV special directed by Rob Marshall, director of the Academy Award®-winning Chicago. When performing as Tony Bennett, he connects to people everywhere through the magic of his music. What many of his admirers may not know, however, is that Bennett, under the name of Anthony Benedetto, is also a successful painter whose works hang in major museums and galleries, including the Smithsonian.
In this beautiful new book, richly illustrated with his own artwork, Tony takes the time to reflect on his career, and the inspiration that continues to infuse both his music and his art. Along with journalist Robert Sullivan, he explores recurring themes in his life, including jazz, individualism, the creative zone, love, truth and beauty, chiaroscuro (the balance of light and shadow, both in painting and life), and the lifelong adventure that has taken him around the world and back again. His own personal memorabilia will be on display, along with album covers and notes. And for everyone who loves Bennett’s gorgeous voice and elegant song stylings: an exclusive CD featuring his favorite tunes, including some rare choices.

Mitch Albom is the author of the international bestsellers For One More Day, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and Tuesdays with Morrie, as well as six other books. He also writes screenplays and stage plays. Albom serves on numerous charitable boards and has founded three charities in the Detroit area. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
Mario Cuomo was the 52nd Governor of New York, from 1983–94. He is currently a lawyer at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. He is the author of several books, including More Than Words: The Speeches of Mario Cuomo, Reason to Believe, and Why Lincoln Matters: Today More Than Ever.
Robert Sullivan is a Deputy Managing Editor of Life, and Editorial Director of Life Books. He is the author of over a dozen books, including Remembering Sinatra and Ronald Reagan: A Life in Pictures.

“It doesn’t surprise me that the recent years have been among Tony’s most fruitful…In fact, there is now so much to share of his life, his music, his painting, his world, that one book could scarcely contain it all. But this one—broken down into sections that parallel the phases of his life—is a worthy work. It reminds me of a quote from Ellington, who said when he was asked to compose some sacred music, ‘Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees.’ Now Tony Bennett can say, loudly and openly, what his heart has learned, what his music has taught him, what his canvas has inspired.”                      —Mitch Albom