Tony Bennett marks 80th birthday with 'Duets'

Tony Bennett marks 80th birthday with 'Duets'
LiveDaily.com - USA
... Bennett: Duets/An American Classic" features Bennett sharing the mic with Bono, Michael Buble, Elvis Costello, Dixie Chicks, Juanes, Billy Joel, Diana Krall ...

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.