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I know the history of the record business so well because I followed Billie Holiday into the record studios. It was so primitive compared to the sophisticated business today.

Tony Bennett

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Tony Bennett
Age: 98
Born: 1926
Born: August 3
Actor
Autobiographer
Jazz Musician
Painter
Recording Artist
Singer
New York City
New York
Anthony Dominick Benedetto
Anthony Dominick Tony Benedetto
Anthony Benedetto
Well
Holiday
Studios
Record
Records
Billie
History
Sophisticated
Business
Followed
Today
Primitive
Wells
Compared

More quotes by Tony Bennett

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It's the kind of turn that happened to the great country of Germany, when Nazis came over and created tragic things, and they had to be told off. And if we continue this kind of violence and accept it in our country, the rest of the world's going to really take care of us, in a very bad way.
Tony Bennett
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I've taken stuff from people, too. You know though, if you steal from one person, you're just a thief. But if you steal from everyone, that's research.
Tony Bennett
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I have a very strong passion to sing and paint. I'm really a student.
Tony Bennett
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I still insist that American performers are the best performers in the world.
Tony Bennett
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We're in an era where the demand is for immediate hits that are destined to become obsolescent. Six months later, everyone forgets the artist and the tune. It's become like a con job. Producers, engineers, lawyers and accountants all make money, but the artists don't.
Tony Bennett
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I always feel the audience is my best teacher.
Tony Bennett
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I'd like to have every gentleman and lady in this room commit themselves to get our government to legalize drugs. So they have to get it through a doctor, not just some gangsters who sell it under the table. Let's legalize drugs like they did in Amsterdam. No one's hiding or sneaking around corners to get it. They go to a doctor to get it.
Tony Bennett
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Every city I go to is an opportunity to paint, whether it's Omaha or Hawaii.
Tony Bennett
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I've been so fortunate because I never really had ups and downs as far as my career. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I've been sold out all over the world.
Tony Bennett
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I don't look down to an audience. I look up to them. They respond to quality.
Tony Bennett
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I am very much inspired by the great masters of entertainment: Bob Hope, George Burns, Jimmy Durante - who never thought about retiring. When people ask me if I plan to retire, I say, Retire to what? I am doing what I love best right now!
Tony Bennett
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Luckily for his audiences, Bennett doesn't tire of singing I Left My Heart. ... that song made me a world citizen. And when I do it, it always feels like the first time.
Tony Bennett
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I have to say I owe my career to the master composers of the Great American Songbook who have written such high-quality songs - the best popular music ever composed.
Tony Bennett
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I don't disrespect the audience. I only sing very well-written, intelligent songs.
Tony Bennett
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There's always something every night that I learn from reacting to what the audience is reacting to. You learn what to leave out, what to put in, if you need a little more comedy or more drama.
Tony Bennett
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I think if you have a passion for what you do then there are no limitations on how long or how much you can accomplish.
Tony Bennett
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More than anybody else I’d like to thank Count Basie for teaching me how to perform.
Tony Bennett
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When the uncreative tell the creative what to do, it stops being art.
Tony Bennett
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If you follow your passion, you'll never work a day in your life.
Tony Bennett
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The young people look great on television. They’re youthful and have a lot of zip and energy, but when you see them live, they can only do about 20 minutes because they haven’t got the training to hold an audience for an hour and a half or so.
Tony Bennett