Tony Bennett marks 80th birthday with 'Duets'

Tony Bennett will celebrate his 80th birthday with the release of a duets CD featuring the legendary singer teaming up in the studio with a virtual who's who list of the music industry.

"Tony Bennett: Duets/An American Classic" features Bennett sharing the mic with Bono, Michael Buble, Elvis Costello, Dixie Chicks, Juanes, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, John Legend, Paul McCartney, George Michael, Sting, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor and Stevie Wonder.

Trumpeter Chris Botti and violinist Pinchas Zukerman also guest on the album, which is due in stores Sept. 26.

The performances were recorded in three different studios on two continents, with producer Phil Ramone supervising the sessions, during which each guest artist performed live, side by side with Bennett.

"Each duet artist brought their own soul and sensibility to their song performance and it was a wonderful gift for my birthday to be able to record with these talented musicians," Bennett said in a press release.

The CD's first single will be released on Bennett's 80th birthday, Aug. 3. Target stores will be involved in a co-promotion of the album, with the chain offering "value-added" versions of the CD, as well as a making-of disc.

A prime-time network TV special (also sponsored by Target) documenting the making of the album and featuring Bennett performing with some of the guest artists on the disc is expected later this year.

TOUR DATES
 tour dates and tickets
June 2006
17 – Los Angeles, CA - Kodak Theatre
22 - Montreal, Quebec - Salle Wilfrid Pelletier-Place Des Arts
28 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Orpheum Theatre
30 - Montreal, Quebec - Salle Wilfrid Pelletier-Place Des Arts

August 2006
5 - Asheville, NC - Biltmore Estate
10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall
12 - Detroit, MI - Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
19 - Council Bluffs, IA - Harrah's Stir Cove
25, 26 - Atlantic City, NJ - Bally's Grand Ballroom

September 2006
1, 2 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival
9 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
15 - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino
29 - Costa Mesa. CA - Orange County Performing Arts Center

October 2006
7 - Galveston, TX - Grand 1894 Opera House
27, 28 - Richmond, British Columbia - River Rock Casino Resort

December 2006
6, 7 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live
9 - Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
10 - Ft. Meyers, FL - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
12 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
13 - Melbourne, FL - King Center for Performing Arts
15 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall

 tour dates and tickets
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