Life Is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett

by Tony Bennett

Overview

One of the most well-known and beloved vocalists of our time, Tony Bennett is an American icon. Now, in this rich and beautiful memoir, the legendary Grammy and Emmy Award–winning singer takes us behind the scenes of his multi-platinum career. Revealing, insightful, and always moving, Life Is a Gift tells the stories of Bennett’s experiences in the music industry, what he learned, and who he met along the way, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and Duke Ellington, as well as Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, and Lady Gaga. A "master class in life," this revealing retrospective offers an intimate look at Tony Bennett's journey, from growing up during the Great Depression to carving a career in popular music that has spanned more than six decades as his popularity among all generations continues to grow.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062207289
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/27/2012
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Tony Bennett (1926 – 2023) grew up in Astoria, Queens, during the Great Depression. After serving as an infantryman in World War II, he studied singing and signed with Columbia Records in 1950, releasing his first hit with the label in 1951. Over the course of his career, which spanned more than sixty years, he sold millions of albums that achieved gold and platinum status both in the United States and worldwide, and won twenty Grammy Awards.

Date of Birth:

August 3, 1926

Place of Birth:

Astoria, Queens, New York, New York

Website:

http://www.exploringthearts.org

Table of Contents

Foreword Mitch Albom ix

Introduction: How Do You Keep the Music Playing? xv

1 Only Sing Good Songs 1

2 I've Always Been Unplugged 13

3 Proper Involvement 19

4 Learn What to Leave Out 41

5 The Art of Excellence 49

6 Fame on the Brain 61

7 Never Underestimate the Public 71

8 Butterflies Are Good 81

9 Bel Canto 89

10 The Family Circle 97

11 War Is Insanity 111

12 Free Form 119

13 Everything Should Be Done with Love 129

14 When They Zig, I Zag 135

15 Mentor a Young Person 147

16 Black Crows and Golden Birds 155

17 Life Is a Gift 169

18 Citizen of the World 179

19 Sometimes Turn Off All the Mics 193

20 Go with Truth and Beauty 201

21 Giving Back 209

22 This Too Shall Pass 219

23 I Sing to the Whole Family 229

24 I Never Worked a Day in My Life 235

Acknowledgments 243

List of Artwork 245

Editorial Reviews

Writing in the same style as he sings… Bennett shares countless tales about showbiz, his famous friends, his family, and his artistic career… he remains Zen-like in his delivery… Bennett’s tips for happiness, success, and longevity are like music to the ears.” — Publishers Weekly

“Bennett offers inspiring observations from a joyful life fully lived … [in] this generous, upbeat memoir.” — Booklist (starred review)

“In many ways, Bennett’s story reads like a classic American novel…Like the Zen principles he advocates, Bennett writes in simple, plain prose….revealing stories that define his path and unique perspective… readers can almost hear his distinctive cadence as he waxes nostalgic…celebrity and career anecdotes will likely appeal to fans.” — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

“Bennett’s career has had a peerless longevity and has likely provided him with wisdom and anecdotes for two or three books of this nature…there is…a great deal of wisdom in the [Zen] suggestions at the close of each chapter when they stem directly from Bennett’s own richly lived life.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A gentle read—maybe the equivalent of easy listening—filled with vignettes from the great crooner’s life and lots of stories on his showbiz pals—Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and, more recently, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.” — New York Post

From the Publisher

Bennett offers inspiring observations from a joyful life fully lived … [in] this generous, upbeat memoir.

Booklist (starred review)

"Bennett offers inspiring observations from a joyful life fully lived … [in] this generous, upbeat memoir."

Booklist

Relaxed and comfortable but full of vigor, Bennett’s voice has charmed audiences for more than 60 years. Writing in the same style as he sings, in this new work he shares meditative lessons culled from his amazing life. Having learned the value of hard work during the Great Depression, the pointlessness of war during WWII, and the importance of being true to yourself during a career that has seen musical fads come and go over and over, Bennett (The Good Life, with Will Friedwald) has developed a loose set of rules by which he lives. Whether he is suggesting people “Only Sing Good Songs” or “Everything Should be Done with Love,” Bennett explains how these tenets have shaped his success and makes suggestions about how others can apply them to their lives. Though not an autobiography per se, Bennett shares countless tales about showbiz, his famous friends, his family, and his artistic career. Still, it doesn’t matter if he is recounting being awestruck by Frank Sinatra, disagreeing with Columbia Records honcho Clive Davis, or lamenting overindulgence on drugs and alcohol, he remains Zen-like in his delivery. Though slight and not a full account, Bennett’s tips for happiness, success, and longevity are like music to the ears. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

A gentle read—maybe the equivalent of easy listening—filled with vignettes from the great crooner’s life and lots of stories on his showbiz pals—Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and, more recently, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.

New York Post

In many ways, Bennett’s story reads like a classic American novel…Like the Zen principles he advocates, Bennett writes in simple, plain prose….revealing stories that define his path and unique perspective… readers can almost hear his distinctive cadence as he waxes nostalgic…celebrity and career anecdotes will likely appeal to fans.

Lisa Ko

A gentle read—maybe the equivalent of easy listening—filled with vignettes from the great crooner’s life and lots of stories on his showbiz pals—Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and, more recently, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.

New York Post

Not your standard memoir: Bennett examines how his music has evolved over a six-decade career that has seen a relentless march of styles and stars. Yes, there's an audience; note the 100,000-copy first printing.

Library Journal

The legendary master of the American songbook shares stories and lessons learned from a life in music. As Bennett (The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett, 1998) notes, Frank Sinatra called him "my favorite singer" on more than one occasion. The effect of this endorsement on Bennett's career was, of course, enormous. From a generation of singers still inclined to refer to his work as "showbiz," Bennett's career has had a peerless longevity and has likely provided him with wisdom and anecdotes for two or three books of this nature. The stories are wide-ranging, calling on his relationships with the best-known jazz singers and musicians from the 20th century--stories of collaborations, disagreements and adventures. His passion for art, travel and learning also take the stage. Each chapter showcases what Bennett sees as the necessities for a successful life--e.g., respecting others, hard work, ignoring "trends," and focusing on what you know and love. Bennett is also willing to call bologna by its name when he sees it, and he decries what he calls the "flattening out" of the music industry and of the tendency to prioritize all aspects of the business aside from the quality of the music. Some of the "Zen" suggestions at the close of each chapter fall flat--e.g., there's nothing particularly useful in stating that the world will be a better place if everyone can learn to get along and appreciate each others' differences. There is, however, a great deal of wisdom in the suggestions when they stem directly from Bennett's own richly lived life. Like Bennett's catalog of music--you may not fall in love with each individual story, but it's hard to argue with the way it's being told.

Kirkus Reviews