In 1964, ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ featured Tony Bennett. The beloved jazz singer performed his most famous song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’ Do you have a favorite Tony Bennett song?
Tony smiles as he’s welcomed to the stage with loud applause. He wears a black suit and tie with his hair slicked back. He stands in front of a set with an all-black background in the black-and-white footage.
Tony holds the microphone close to his face as he sings softly and warmly. He delivers the chorus lyrics, “I left my heart in San Francisco. High on a hill, it calls to me. To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars. The morning fog may chill the air. I don’t care.”
The camera stays locked in on Tony’s face the entire time, and he shows genuine emotion through his singing. He shows joy, sadness, and loss with his facial expressions.
Tony Bennett, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in 1926, was known for pop standards, show tunes, jazz, and big band. Many people also don’t know that Tony is a painter with works displayed in several institutions.
‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ was written in Brooklyn in 1953 by George Coy and Douglass Cross. In 1962, Tony released his version, which peaked at number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
The song has become the official anthem for the city of San Francisco. If you want to hear one of the first performances by Tony Bennett, check out ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ clip that will amaze you.
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