Main content

Tony Bennett

Michael Parkinson's castaway is singer Tony Bennett.

The son of Italian immigrants, Antony Benedetto started singing competitively with his brother and earned a living as a singing waiter in restaurants in New York while at art school. After singing in American military bands during the Second World War, he returned to New York, where he had his first hit with Because of You in 1951. Since then he has established himself as one of the most popular jazz singers of his generation and has worked with Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Woody Herman among others. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he talks about his life and work, and chooses the eight discs he would take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Don't Blame Me by Art Tatum
Book: Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Luxury: Suit

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 9 Jan 1987 09:05
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Benny Green

Next

James Prior

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Take The A Train

  • Ella Fitzgerald

    These Foolish Things

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Art Tatum

      Don't Blame Me

  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F Major

  • Judy Garland

    Last Night When We Were Young

  • Bill Evans

    Waltz For Debby

  • Frank Sinatra

    Deep In A Dream

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite Of Spring

  • Book Choice

    • Crime & Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  • Luxury Choice

    • Suit

Credits

Presenter Michael Parkinson
Interviewed Guest Tony Bennett

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Jan 1987 12:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 9 Jan 1987 09:05
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast