In 2009, Tony Bennett took a The New York Times reporter around Astoria, which he declared “the finest place to live,” asserting that though he’s seen much of the world, he has never forgotten his roots. Indicating one particular restaurant, Ricardo’s, he said, “I worked as a singing waiter there.” From here, he worked his way up the musical ladder, further buoyed by having his soon-to-be-iconic voice “discovered” during a stint in the United States army.
PBS‘ American Masters states that he enlisted in the military late in 1944. The following year, as the war ended, he was part of the occupation of Landsberg in Germany. He happened to be heard singing while taking a shower, and found himself in the 255th regiment’s band after a superior officer was impressed by his talents. And so, in the hardest of times and in the humblest of ways, Bennett found his calling and dedicated himself to singing.
The rest is musical history. 1951 saw the release of his debut single “Because Of You,” per Biography, and his star rose higher from there.
