Tony Bennett, the iconic American singer who died on Friday, July 21, 2023, is honored on SiriusXM radio on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23, 2023.

Bennett is the sole performer for the weekend on SiriusXM 40s Junction channel 71 on radios and the SiriusXM App. Listen online at:

Hear Tony Bennett on the SiriusXM App Now

Bennett was born as Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926,in Queens, New York City. His father, John Benedetto, was a grocer who emigrated from Podargoni, Italy, in 1906. His mother, Anna, was a seamstress who was born in the U.S. shortly after her parents emigrated from Italy in 1899.

Bennett served in the U.S. Army in World War II and saw heavy action in France and Germany. Upon his discharge from the Army and return to the States in 1946, Benedetto studied at the American Theatre Wing on the GI Bill. He was taught the bel canto singing discipline, which would keep his voice in good shape for his entire career. He performed wherever he could, including while waiting tables.

In 1949, Pearl Bailey recognized Benedetto’s talent and asked him to open for her in Greenwich Village. She had invited Bob Hope to the show. Hope decided to take Benedetto on the road with him and simplified his name to Tony Bennett. In 1950, Bennett cut a demo of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and was signed to the major label Columbia Records by Mitch Miller. His first big hit was “Because of You“, a ballad produced by Miller with a lush orchestral arrangement from Percy Faith.

Bennett went on to release 70 albums and win 20 GRAMMY Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as two Primetime Emmys. His final live performances took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 2021 with Lady Gaga.

Bennett is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters, Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett, and his nine grandchildren.

Where to See Tony Bennett

In addition to hearing his music on SiriusXM, you can see Tony Bennett in many videos on YouTube and elsewhere.

He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show several times; here are videos from 1951 and 1963:

Tony Bennett on Ed Sullivan 1951 / Tony Bennett on Ed Sullivan 1963

In October 1962 he sang on the initial broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He and Carson looked back on it in a show broadcast in 1979:

Tony Bennett with Johnny Carson

See more videos at: Tony Bennett on YouTube

Below is a video of a SiriusXM Town Hall with Bennett.