St. Petersburg, Fla. – (November 6, 2017)- Duke Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater and the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts proudly present An Evening with TONY BENNETT. The 19 time Grammy Award-winning musician, whose music spans over six decades, will grace the stage on February 9, 2018 for one night only. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, November 17 at 10:00 am.
With worldwide record sales in the millions, and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, TONY BENNETT is a musician who touches the hearts and souls of audiences with his legendary vocals and charming stage presence. His long list of achievements, spanning over 60 years, includes nineteen Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, making this artist a true international treasure. His signature tunes, such as “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” and “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” form part of the fabric of American music culture. Often billed as the world’s most boyish octogenarian, TONY BENNETT is a vital musical artist at the peak of his powers.
Tony Bennett’s daughter, Antonia Bennett has been touring with her father and will open the performance with a collection of jazz/pop standards. Antonia Bennett is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Having celebrated his 90th birthday in August of 2016, the milestone was marked by the presentation of TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90: The Best is Yet To Come a two-hour prime time special that aired in December. A companion CD of the same name was released simultaneously. Last fall also saw the release of Bennett’s fifth book, JUST GETTING STARTED, which he co-authored with journalist Scott Simon. Bennett’s 85th birthday in 2011 marked the release of “Duets II” and made music history by making Tony the oldest artist to ever have a #1 CD on the Billboard album charts. “Duets II,” followed up “Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic” CD, released in 2006. 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the singer’s signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” as well as the release of a new documentary film, THE ZEN OF BENNETT, created and conceived by Tony’s son and manager Danny Bennett. Bennett also authored his fourth book, LIFE IS A GIFT, released in 2012 and entered the NY Times Best Seller list. In 2014, Tony Bennett released a collaborative album with Lady Gaga, CHEEK TO CHEEK featuring these two legendary artists performing jazz standards. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Album charts making Bennett the oldest musical artist, at the age of 88, to have an album top the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Album category. Tony Bennett is a Kennedy Center Honoree, an NEA Jazz Master and a recipient of the United Nation’s Humanitarian and Citizen of the World honors. Celebrating his 90th birthday in August of 2016, the milestone was marked by the presentation of TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90: The Best is Yet To Come a two-hour prime time special that aired in December. A companion CD of the same name was released simultaneously. Last fall also saw the release of Bennett’s fifth book, JUST GETTING STARTED, which he co-authored with journalist Scott Simon
TONY BENNETT is also a talented painter. He has exhibited his work in galleries around the world, and three of his original paintings are part of the permanent collection in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.
Throughout his career, TONY BENNETT has put his heart and time into supporting humanitarian concerns and joined with Dr. Martin Luther King in the historic Selma march in 1965. His many charitable works include raising millions towards Diabetes, and lending his artwork to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. In 2007, he was honored by the United Nations. Together with his wife, Susan, TONY BENNETT established the charitable organization, Exploring The Arts (ETA) to support arts education in public high schools. Tony founded Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a NYC public high school in his hometown of Astoria, Queens and ETA now supports 37 public high schools throughout New York City and Los Angeles.
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Tickets will go on sale to the public Friday, November 17, 2017 at 10 am. Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts members may purchase tickets starting Wednesday, November 8 at 10 am. Tickets may be purchased online at TheMahaffey.com, charged by phone at 727.893.7832, or in person at the Mahaffey Theater Box Office.
Ticket prices are: $69.00, $89.00, $119.00, $155.00
Download high resolution photos here: TONY BENNETT
The Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater
The Mahaffey Theater, under the management of Big3 Entertainment, is one of Tampa Bay’s top-rated performing arts venues. Home to the Florida Orchestra, The Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and international artists and performances – Broadway, pop, rock, comedy, dance, classical and interactive engagements and exhibitions.
Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the 2,031-seat cultural jewel boasts spectacular waterfront views and is located only minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-renowned museums. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs.
Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts
Founded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2009, the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts is dedicated to the success and future of The Mahaffey Theater and to the notion that through diverse programing and patron membership support, performing arts should be enjoyed by all of St. Petersburg’s citizens. It’s your theater!
The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts is committed to supporting and presenting all genres of the performing arts at The Mahaffey Theater, funding arts education for school children through the Class Acts performance series and providing its member patrons with unequaled services, entertainment and cultural experiences.