Tony Bennett

A musical tribute to Cole Porter by two generations of vocalists.

Tony Bennett stands as a pivotal mentor and collaborator in Lady Gaga's career, resulting in two celebrated joint albums. Their partnership, beginning with a meeting at the 2011 Robin Hood Foundation gala, culminated in Love for Sale, released on September 30, 2021. This project serves as a tribute to Cole Porter and is the sixty-first studio album of Bennett's career. Recorded between 2018 and early 2020, the duo revisited their chemistry from Cheek to Cheek (2014) to honor jazz standards with fresh arrangements.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Anthony Dominick Benedetto

Born

3 August 1926

Birthplace

New York City, U.S.

Died

21 July 2023

Burial place

Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York City

Years active

1949–2021

Spouse

Patricia Beech (1952–1971)
Sandra Grant (1971–1983)
Susan Crow (2007)

Children

4, including Antonia

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Their journey began in 2011 when they met at the Robin Hood Foundation gala, where Bennett asked Gaga to record "The Lady Is a Tramp" for his album Duets II. This led to Cheek to Cheek (2014), which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with 131,000 copies sold. Following its success, they immediately planned a sequel inspired by Porter's 1936 musical Red, Hot and Blue. For Love for Sale, the duo recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York, navigating delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Gaga's other projects like A Star Is Born. The album features ten standard tracks plus two bonus songs, all written by Porter. Sebastian Scotney of The Arts Desk noted the album felt "calmer" than its predecessor, with a unifying thread provided by Porter's compositions.

Reader's Guide

Fans can explore two editions of Love for Sale: a standard version with ten tracks and deluxe editions adding "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "You're the Top." The title track features a bebop saxophone solo, while "It's De-Lovely" opens the album with drums and brass. To promote the release, Gaga appeared on Apple Music's "First Listen" event since Bennett could not participate due to his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2016. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, the album won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. It also earned nominations for Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "I Get a Kick Out of You." Bennett broke a Guinness World Record at age 95 years and 60 days as the oldest person to release an album of new material.

Did You Know?

Tony Bennett broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material at 95 years and 58 days old.
Gaga changed a lyric in 'I've Got You Under My Skin' to reference a tattoo of a trumpet that Bennett drew on her arm.
The duo recorded their final collaborative album between 2018 and early 2020 at Electric Lady Studios in New York.
The title track 'Love for Sale' was chosen as the album name, though Bennett did not explicitly call it his favorite Cole Porter song.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Tony Bennett in relation to Lady Gaga?

Tony Bennett was a legendary jazz singer who served as both a mentor and frequent musical partner to Lady Gaga. Their relationship bridged the gap between classic American songbook traditions and modern pop innovation.

What albums did they release together?

The pair released two collaborative studio albums, Cheek to Cheek and Love for Sale, which focused primarily on timeless jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. These projects shifted Gaga's public focus toward pure musicality and vocal storytelling.

Did they win any awards for their work together?

Yes, their joint efforts were critically acclaimed and earned them multiple Grammy Awards. These accolades recognized their successful fusion of contemporary pop energy with traditional jazz performance.

What is the current status of Tony Bennett?

Tony Bennett passed away in July 2023, ending a cherished chapter in Lady Gaga's discography. His legacy remains a cornerstone of her work, symbolizing a timeless duet that bridged generations through music.