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[StrongerThanMe]

Amy Winehouse is in my prayers, says Tony Bennett

Veteran singer expresses concern for musician with whom he recorded a song for a new album of duets

Veteran singer Tony Bennett said he was "praying" for Amy Winehouse after recording a song with her for a new album of duets, which will feature him singing with artists including Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey.
In an interview with the Guardian, to announce the new project and a show at the London Palladium, Bennett expressed concern for Winehouse, who recently cancelled a tour of Europe after odd onstage behaviour in Belgrade.
"Of all the contemporary artists I know, she has the most natural jazz voice, but I'm worried about her and I'm praying for her," he said. "She'd help everyone by sobering up and cleaning up her spirituality."
Winehouse is one of 16 pop and country singers featured on Duets II, the followup to Bennett's Grammy-winning 2006 release Duets: An American Classic.
Other contributors include Queen Latifah, John Mayer, Norah Jones and Michael Buble. Bennett said he was surprised when Lady Gaga readily agreed to work with him, although the song has yet to be recorded. "I said I'd love to make a recording with her and I was thrilled that she said yes because she's in such high demand."
The album and Palladium date – his first appearance there in 35 years – are to celebrate his 85th birthday. The birthday is next month but the concert is not until 3 October – it is not yet clear whether any of the younger singers will make guest appearances.
As almost the last man standing of the jazz era, Bennett has little trouble enticing younger artists to sing with him. Record buyers seem to approve. Duets: An American Classic, which featured George Michael and Elvis Costello among others, sold 1.5m copies in the US.
Like other "heritage" artists such as Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones, he has prospered in recent years by performing his catalogue of classic songs in places where new audiences discover him, including the Glastonbury festival.

http://www.guardian....rs-tony-bennett

[StrongerThanMe]

Tony Bennett has accused the music industry of not doing enough to help Amy Winehouse.

The troubled singer recently made the headlines after a disastrous opening gig for her 12-date European tour. Amy, who has a history of drink and drug problems, was booed during the set in Serbia, which saw her slur her words and drop her microphone. The remaining tour dates were subsequently cancelled. And the legendary crooner, who worked with Amy on his forthcoming song called Body and Soul, has called on the industry to do something for the singer.

“It would be more civilised to do it that way, but the greed has set in,” he told BBC radio show Today when asked if he felt there should be more pastoral care in the industry. “About Amy Winehouse, she was absolutely wonderful. When it comes to her musicality, I think she is ahead of her time. She is a natural singer, and I can't tell you the magnificent change in my life when I stopped taking drugs and stopped hiding from the public doing things I shouldn't do. I enjoyed my life so much more.”
Following a declining career and a near fatal cocaine overdose in 1979, Tony vowed to clean up and went on to have huge success during the 1980s.
However, his biggest hit is still 1962's I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Ironically, it was originally only supposed to a B-side as Tony feared it would only be a hit locally.
“We always thought it would be a local song in the San Francisco community, having no idea that it would break out and become my signature song for the rest of my life,” he explained.

http://www.musicroom...-winehouse.html

[jejaynes15]

Video of Tony talking about Amy.

[pearljo]

i can't bring myself to read or watch this right now.

edit: something about just seeing the concern tony has, has sent tears running down my face. even though...fuck it I don't know what to say. Maybe the articles offer hope. Maybe I can read them tomorrow.

Edited by pearljo, 04 July 2011 - 09:50 PM.

[lyricgenius]

Reading and listening to these Tony Bennett interviews just makes me miss Amy even more. It just reinforces what an enormous, authentic talent she was, connected to the greats of the past and a true successor to them. Puts her into historical perspective. What a loss. I hope Tony's words will help her at least in some small way. And if he was able to beat his serious addiction problem, maybe Amy can too.

[Winehousedrunk]

Video of Tony talking about Amy.

The clip above was removed due to copyright complaints (yuck tube :-P), but here's a longer clip of the same interview LOL; I like it that there's more context 'cause of the couple of extra minutes.