- published: 22 Sep 2009
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John Alfred "Johnny" Mandel (born November 23, 1925) is a Grammy and Oscar-winning American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, and Shirley Horn.
Mandel was born in New York City to Alfred, a garment manufacturer, and Hannah, an opera singer, who discovered he had perfect pitch at the age of five. Piano lessons ensued, but Mandel switched to the trumpet and later the trombone.
He studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. In 1943 he played the trumpet with Joe Venuti, in 1944 with Billy Rogers and trombone in the bands of Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey, Buddy Rich, Georgie Auld and Chubby Jackson. In 1949 he accompanied the singer June Christy in the orchestra of Bob Cooper. From 1951 till 1953 he played and arranged music in Elliot Lawrence's orchestra, and in 1953 with Count Basie. Later he resided in Los Angeles, where he played the bass trumpet for Zoot Sims.
Anthony Dominick "Tony" Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), better known by his stage name Tony Bennett, is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. He is also a painter, having created works under the name Anthony Benedetto that are on permanent public display in several institutions. He is the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York.
Born and raised in Astoria to an Italian-American family, Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as a U.S. Army infantryman in the European Theater. Afterward, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records and had his first number-one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several top hits such as "Rags to Riches" followed in the early 1950s. He then refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and his personal life experienced an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era.
Through Early morning fog I see
Visions of the things to be
The pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see
(chorus)
That Suicide is Painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
Try to find a way to make
All our little joys relate
Without that ever present hate
But now I know that it's too late
And (chorus)
The game of life is hard to play
I'm going to lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
So this is all I have to say
That (chorus)
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
And to another give a seat
For that's the only painless feat
'Cause (chorus)
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works it's way on in
The pain grow stronger watch it grin
For (chorus)
A brave man once requested me
To answer questions that are key
Is it to be or not to be
And I replied "Oh why ask me."
Cause (chorus)