I adore Tony Bennett. I fell in love with Tony about two years ago. I’m not sure how I fell or why, but fell I did. And now, I’m hopelessly in love.

Yes, he’s been around for a long time. But as he’s aged, or as I’ve aged, he’s become irresistible to me. I’ve bought up all his Cd’s. I have a Pandora station dedicated to him. And I just bought tickets, very expensive tickets to see him live when he comes to Sonoma in May for the Memorial Day Sonomajazz concert.

Maybe it’s because his vocal history resembles my own, if I may be so
bold. As I listen to him, his earlier recordings he sounds like an
Italian operetta singer, classical bel canto in his production and
style. But as he  moved into jazz by working with some truly great jazz
musicians, his style became jazz-ish. He swings, and his sound starts
to develop a uniqueness, identifiable, distinct.

And in his later years, yes, he can still belt ‘em out, and his voice
has some rough edges that actually improve his sound, his effect and
make him all the more irresistible. To me.

Ah, Tony, will I ever meet you? I pray I will. Maybe when you come to Sonoma in May. We’ll bump into each other in the Plaza. Look for me. I’ll look for you.