Anthony Dominick Benedetto, known professionally as Tony Bennett, was one of the most celebrated vocalists in American music. Born in 1926 in Queens, New York, Bennett served in the U.S. Army during World War II before launching a recording career in 1951. Over the next seven decades he became known for his distinctive interpretations of jazz and popular standards, recording classic songs such as I Left My Heart in San Francisco and earning more than twenty Grammy Awards. Beyond music, Bennett was an advocate for civil rights, participating in the movement during the 1960s and using his public profile to support social causes. After overcoming struggles with drug addiction in the 1970s, he experienced a major career resurgence beginning in the 1990s and remained active until shortly before his death in 2023. His final studio album, Love for Sale (2021), was recorded with Lady Gaga. Bennett was married three times and was the father of four children: Danny, Dae, Joanna, and Antonia.

Bennett also maintained a long connection to Englewood, New Jersey. He was among the first major entertainment figures to settle in the city during the 1950s, helping establish Englewood's reputation as a desirable home for musicians and performers. His son, Dae Bennett, later opened Hillside Sound Studio in Englewood, a recording facility that attracted nationally known artists. A 1987 Bergen County newspaper article reported that Bennett was recording at the studio with fellow Englewood residents George Benson and Dizzy Gillespie. In 2002, Dae Bennett explained that the studio had become an important cultural asset for the city and a gathering place for musicians from a variety of genres.

During the 1980s, Bennett and his son were also supportive of Englewood's growing R&B and hip-hop communities. Contemporary local press coverage noted that Hillside Sound Studio worked with artists from across the region and became part of a broader musical network that connected established jazz performers with emerging urban music talent. Their involvement helped reinforce Englewood's reputation as a community where multiple musical traditions—from jazz and pop to R&B and hip hop—could thrive side by side.

The Record (April 12, 1961), "Bergen Families Helping To Keep Chinese Culture," which identifies Tony Bennett as an Englewood resident and notes his family's participation in local civic life.

The Week Ahead (July 18, 1987), "Sound Trends," reporting Bennett's recording sessions at Hillside Sound Studio with George Benson and Dizzy Gillespie.

Courier News (February 18, 2002), "Studio aims to be big draw for stars," detailing Dae Bennett's Hillside Sound Studio in Englewood and its role in the local music scene.

“Tony Bennett.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Aug. 2024.

“Tony Bennett.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Aug. 2024.