Tony Bennett (R) meets Stevie Wonder at a function at the White House- Pete Souza, official White House photographer photo

Piers Morgan's ethics are questionable - Pete Riches photo

Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA - SAY WHAT!!! PIERS MORGAN SPOT ON?

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Tony Bennett is a classy man of 85 who has managed to over overcome the bad times of drug addiction and a failing singing career. Piers Morgan touched on these points but didn't elaborate on the topics. Bennett deserves the respect that Morgan gave him. - Recommended TV Listings

Wednesday October 12, 2011

MORGAN'S TEMPORARY REPRIEVE

Forgive us lord for we are about to sin. Our sin is that we are about to compliment CNN's talk show host Piers Morgan for doing the best work that we have ever witnessed that being his interview earlier this week with famed singer Tony Bennett aka his birth name Benedetto.

In the past we have criticized Morgan but being what we consider having a balanced reporting approach to the journalism business we must reveal the good as well as the bad. In this instance Morgan has cashed in his redemption tickets.

Bennett is a classy man of 85 who has managed to over overcome the bad times of drug addiction and a failing career. Morgan touched on these points but didn't elaborate on the topics. To be fair Bennett was clever enough to be schooled in Morgan's go for the juggler interviewing tactics and when asked about a touchy subject replied in a tactful manner.

What Morgan did was bring out facts about his guest that I wasn't aware of. Having been a musician from the Philadelphia area you don't say bad things about Frank Sinatra and in many cases Bennett. To their largely Italian following in the area their reputations and respect for them was sacrosanct.

Morgan revealed something about Bennett that I wasn't aware of that being his involvement in human rights. Bennett was a firm believer in the American Civil Rights movement, Bennett participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. Years later he would continue this commitment by refusing to perform in apartheid South Africa.

The topic came about when Morgan went into his usual knock on American politics and asked Bennett if he ever though that in his lifetime he would ever see America vote for a Black man as its president. Bennett replied how intelligent Barack Obama is and indicated that being an intelligent man is not the same as a smart man. He emphasized that Obama is extremely intelligent and expressed how much he admired the US president for that.

Bennett fought for his country being in the military and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His life experience gives him wisdom that those of Morgan's age can't relate to. Morgan touched on Bennett's interview with Howard Stern another controversial talk show host. Morgan again was tactful and didn't pursue his usual tactic of ripping guests apart. He permitted Bennett to tell it like he wanted to tell his story.

In reference to the Stern interview a part of Bennett's statement was "My life experiences, ranging from the Battle of the Bulge to marching with Martin Luther King, made me a life-long humanist and pacifist, and reinforced my belief that violence begets violence and that war is the lowest form of human behavior."

The man that made San Francisco more famous with his recording "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and has sold over 50 million records worldwide during his career. His son Danny helped revive his career after his father was without a recording contract. His son suggested that Tony as he refers to his father do an album of duets with current pop stars. He did and it was a success.

In September 2011, Bennett released Duets II, a follow-up to his first collaboration album, in conjunction with his 85th birthday with current pop stars including Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse. The album's pairing with Amy Winehouse on "Body and Soul" - reportedly the last recording she made before her death - charted on the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100, making Bennett the oldest living artist to appear there as well as the artist with the greatest span of appearances. The single did well in Europe, where it reached the top 15 in several countries. The album then debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making him the oldest living artist to reach that top spot as well as marking the first time he had reached it himself.

Bennett told Morgan that Amy Winehouse was the best female singer that he has ever heard. He said she was better than Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. He also expressed his sorrow that he didn't get a chance to talk to Winehouse about fighting drug addiction before she passed away.

What Morgan did that was unusual was let the guest take center stage and reveal their information without being rudely interrupted. Morgan did a thoroughly professional job with this interview and now lord we ask your forgiveness for being so honest and giving Morgan some sort of redemption.

When I was in the limousine business I had the honor of working with Bennett who was with his youngest daughter. He was one of the most polite, considerate and genuine down to earth people I have ever met. He deserves the respect that Morgan gave him. NOTE:

Related story: PIERS MORGAN & SIMON COWELL THE KINGS OF SLEAZE

NOTES:

Benedetto was drafted into the United States Army in November 1944, during the final stages of World War II. n January 1945, he was assigned as a replacement infantryman to 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division, a unit filling in for the heavy losses suffered in the Battle of the Bulge. He moved across France, and later, into Germany.

Benedetto narrowly escaped death several times. The experience made him a patriot but also a pacifist; he would later write, "Anybody who thinks that war is romantic obviously hasn't gone through one," and later say, "It was a nightmare that's permanent. I just said, 'This is not life. This is not life.'" At the war's conclusion he was involved in the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp near Landsberg, where some American prisoners of war from the 63rd Division had also been held.

In 1949, Pearl Bailey recognized Benedetto's talent and asked him to open for her in Greenwich Village. She had invited Bob Hope to the show. Hope decided to take Benedetto on the road with him, but suggested he use his real name simplified as Tony Bennett.

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