American crooner Tony Bennett agreeing to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival was already something special. The 85-year-old singer last appeared at the festival in 2003. Bennett's real name is Anthony Benedetto and he was discovered in 1949 by comedian Bob Hope. Since then he has become one of the US's most important musicians. Bennett has sold no fewer than fifty million albums and is still extremely active. Last year he released Body And Soul, a moving ballad he had recorded with Amy Winehouse. The last song Winehouse ever recorded, rumor has it, is on Bennett's latest album Duets II. Stars like Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and Norah Jones also worked on this album that reached no. 1 on the American charts. A new generation of music lovers has become interested in Bennett's work since then. Before now, the last time he played at North Sea Jazz was in 2003.
