Who Didn’t Tony Bennett Duet With?
Tony Bennett, the legendary singer who sadly passed away at the age of 96, was known for his incredible collaborations with a wide range of artists. From Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse to Aretha Franklin and Barbra Streisand, there seemed to be no one Bennett couldn’t collaborate with. In this article, we will celebrate and explore some of the most memorable duets Bennett recorded throughout his career.
One of Bennett’s most iconic duets was with Lady Gaga. The two New Yorkers first collaborated on “The Lady Is a Tramp” from Bennett’s 2011 album Duets II. The pairing was so perfect that they went on to record a full album together called Cheek to Cheek in 2014. Bennett and Gaga hoped to introduce more young people to jazz music through their collaboration. The album was a huge success, earning five Grammy nominations and turning a new generation of listeners onto the genre.
Another notable collaboration in Bennett’s career was with the late Amy Winehouse. Months before her tragic passing, Winehouse recorded her final song, “Body & Soul,” with Bennett. The emotional recording session was filmed and showcased the incredible talent of both performers. The song appeared on Bennett’s Duets II album and Winehouse’s posthumous album Lioness: Hidden Treasures. The collaboration won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2012, and Winehouse’s parents joined Bennett on stage to accept the award.
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For his 80th birthday, Bennett gathered an impressive lineup of A-list performers to record with him. The resulting album, Duets: An American Classic, featured collaborations with Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bono, Celine Dion, George Michael, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Sting, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, and many more. The album was a massive success, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and achieving gold status in just a month. It also won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Bennett didn’t stop there. To celebrate his 85th birthday, he released another star-studded album called Duets II in 2011. This album featured collaborations with Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Natalie Cole, Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Faith Hill, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Alejandro Sanz, Winehouse (again!), and Gaga (again!). Duets II earned Bennett two more Grammy awards.
In 2012, Bennett released Viva Duets, which showcased his collaborations with Latin artists. Singing in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Bennett teamed up with Gloria Estefan, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony, Christina Aguilera, Romeo Santos, and many others. Bennett recorded a duet with Vicente Fernández at the iconic singer’s ranch in Mexico, truly capturing the heart and soul of Latin music.
Bennett also collaborated with fellow New Yorker Billy Joel on several occasions. They sang “New York State of Mind” together to commemorate the closing of Shea Stadium in 2008, and the duet was nominated for a Grammy. Bennett’s album Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues featured duets with Ray Charles, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, and Kay Starr.
Throughout his career, Bennett worked with a range of talented musicians, including pianist Ralph Sharon, with whom he recorded Tony Sings for Two in 1961. He also collaborated with pianist Bill Evans on two albums: 1975’s The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album and 1977’s Together Again. In 2002, Bennett released A Wonderful World with k.d. lang, and in 2015, he recorded The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern with pianist Bill Charlap.
Tony Bennett’s ability to collaborate with artists from diverse genres and backgrounds showcased his versatility and love for music. From jazz to pop, from Latin to blues, Bennett left an indelible mark on the music industry through his collaborative efforts. His duets will forever be remembered as an iconic part of his legacy.
