The legendary Tony Bennett will be returning for his 10th visit to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 3 July 2017 as part of a string of live performances in the UK to celebrate his 90th year. Since his first visit in 1996, 19 time Grammy Award-winning Tony has performed to over 17,000 adoring fans in Symphony Hall and he can’t wait to come back. Says Tony: “The audiences in Birmingham are exceptionally warm and welcoming and they are so fortunate to have this beautiful Symphony Hall right in their home town … one of my favourite places to perform…” 
 
The tour will showcase Tony’s greatest hits, including The Best Is Yet to Come, How Do You Keep the Music Playing, I Got Rhythm, The Shadow of Your Smile and the multi-award winning fan favourite, I Left My Heart In San Francisco. 
 
He will be joined once again by jazz masters Gray Sargent (guitar), Marshall Wood (bass), Billy Stritch (piano) and Harold Jones (drums).  
 
The singer had his first number one US hit, Because Of You in 1951, which remained at the top of the charts for 10 weeks and went on to win his first Grammy Award in 1962. He was signed to Columbia Records then, and he's still signed with them today.  
 
In a glittering 67-year year career he has performed alongside the greatest artists of all time, including: Count Basie; Ella Fitzgerald; Duke Ellington; Barbra Streisand; Aretha Franklin; Paul McCartney and Elton John. More recent collaborations have included Lady Gaga and the last ever recording with Amy Winehouse in London’s Abbey Road Studios.  
 
He has performed to 11 US Presidents, brought the house down at Glastonbury and the iTunes Festival and has performed to four generations of the Royal Family, including an unforgettable performance at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. 
 
Tony's sold millions of records world-wide and continues to play to sold-out houses throughout the US.
 
The past year has seen Tony celebrate his 90th year in style with Lady Gaga lighting up the Empire State Building on his birthday and the NYC Mayor proclaiming an official Tony Bennett Day. This was followed by a star-studded tribute show at New York’s Radio City Hall ‘Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet To Come’ with performances by amongst others: Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, Andrea Bocelli and Kevin Spacey. The show’s music was recorded and is currently released on Columbia Records worldwide. On 9 March his fifth book, Just Getting Started, is published by Harper Collins in the UK and celebrates the inspiration he has found in the people and places that have touched his life and career.
 
Chris Proctor, Programme Manager at Town Hall, Symphony Hall said: “We are delighted to welcome Tony Bennett back to Symphony Hall for his tenth visit, and as part of his 90th birthday celebrations. An opportunity to be in the company of artists of this calibre should not be missed, especially when you consider the fact that Frank Sinatra claimed that Tony Bennett was '…one of the best singers in the business!!'"