Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as a U.S. Army infantryman in the European Theater. Afterward, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records and had his first number-one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several tracks such as "Rags to Riches" followed in early 1953. He then refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and personal life experienced an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a comeback in the late 1980s and 1990s, putting out gold record albums again and expanding his reach to the MTV generation while keeping his musical style intact.
Bennett continued to create popular and critically praised work into the 21st century. He attracted acclaim for his collaborations with Lady Gaga, which began with the album Cheek to Cheek (2014); the two performers toured together to promote the album throughout 2014 and 2015. With the release of the duo's second album, Love for Sale (2021), Bennett broke the individual record for the longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist; his first top-10 record was I Left My Heart in San Francisco in 1962. Bennett also broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days.
Bennett has amassed numerous accolades throughout his career, including 19 Grammy Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree. Bennett has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
In February 2021, it was revealed that Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016. Due to the slow progression of his illness, he continued to record, tour, and perform until his retirement from concert performances in August 2021 due to physical challenges.
Bennett died in New York City on Friday, July 21, 2023, at the age of 96. His death was announced by his publicist.
Snowfall
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gently drift down
Snowflakes whisper
'Neath my window
Cov'ring trees misty white
Velvet breeze round my door step
Gently softly
Silent snowfall
Tony Bennett's Snowfall is a song that speaks about snow coming down quietly and gently, covering trees and creating a peaceful aura. The first verse talks about how snowflakes whisper as they come down, while the second verse talks about how the snow covers trees with a misty white look. The third verse speaks about how the snow creates a velvet breeze that surrounds the doorstep of the singer, making the whole moment feel serene.
The song speaks about the magic of winter as it creates an undeniable atmosphere of calm and peace. The snowfall gently provides a blanket of comfort to the world, creating a silence that can be heard. The lyrics written by Ruth Thornhill complement the melody created by Claude Thornhill. The song creates an image of a wintery night, with the snow quietly whispering over the land.
Line by Line Meaning
Snowfall softly
Softly falling snow
Gently drift down
Falling down gently
Snowflakes whisper
Whispering snowflakes
'Neath my window
Underneath my window
Cov'ring trees misty white
Trees covered with misty white snow
Velvet breeze round my door step
Soft breeze around my doorstep
Gently softly
Softly and gently
Silent snowfall
Snow falling silently
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAUDE THORNHILL, RUTH THORNHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kathy McElyea
Wow…makes me think of the days when my daddy was here…we had wonderful Christmas’s…back in the late 60”s and 70’s🎄🎄🎄
Joanie Adams
me too!
Jim Irwin
Nobody sings this song quite like Tony Bennett. Nobody.
IAmEnzo
This is just ethereal!
Misty L.
He really is an international treasure.
Maria Elena Fernandez Aragones
De mis cantantes favoritos, y amo las de Navidad 🎄
Paula Thompson
so beautiful....my favorite
ilona frissina
I think Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole so far have the best Christmas.CD--Ok wait I can't leave blue eyes Frank Sinatra out. Great listening for the holidays.
Alaina Ramsey
This song has been a favorite of mine for years and years. It’s so lovely. It makes me want to go for a walk every time there’s a snowstorm with big, fluffy snowflakes that gently fall from the sky. I LOVE it.
Washington Silva
Simply wonderful!