| San Francisco is undeniably among Americas favourite | | | | the worse when the Beatles and other British musical |
| tourist and travel destinations. But as I was | | | | groups first invaded and then conquered the |
| researching my own travel itinerary recently, I | | | | American pop music scene in the mid-1960s. Those |
| realized that the city is more than just a fantastic | | | | of us old enough to remember that period of |
| place to visit. Its also an American icon, so much so, | | | | American history will also remember other musical |
| in fact, that its been portrayed thousands of times in | | | | groups everlastingly linked with San Franciscos iconic |
| music, movies and TV commercials. These pictures | | | | image as the home of Flower Power. |
| and sounds have become permanently associated | | | | In the end, Bennetts singing career would outlast that |
| with our perception of the city. | | | | of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and The Grateful |
| Some popular song tunes illustrate this point quite | | | | Dead. Surprisingly, the performer turned his career |
| well. For those of us who regard San Francisco as a | | | | around in the late 1980s by serenading younger |
| romantic destination, it may well be because of Italian | | | | crowds saturated with disco, punk and techno tunes. |
| singer Tony Bennetts trademark song, "I Left My | | | | Appearances on Letterman, Conan OBrien and a |
| Heart in San Francisco". Born Anthony Benedetto, | | | | twosome with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the MTV |
| Bennett first saw the light of day in Astoria, Queens | | | | Video Music Awards cemented the singers hip new |
| in New York City. Bennetts first big break came | | | | image. |
| when Pearl Bailey picked him to open her number at | | | | Today in his early eighties, Bennett still tours and |
| a Greenwich Village nightclub in the late 1940s. | | | | performs frequently, delighting audiences with |
| Bennett soon went on to sign with Columbia | | | | effortless performances of "Fly Me to the Moon" and |
| Records, launching a singing career that would only | | | | "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The Recording |
| become more popular as the Fifties marched on. | | | | Industry Association of America and the NEA have |
| Tony Bennett released "I Left My Heart in San | | | | selected Bennetts homage to the City on the Bay as |
| Francisco" at the height of his popularity in the year | | | | one of the most historically significant songs of the |
| 1962. At first, this Ballad of the Bay met with only | | | | twentieth century. |
| moderate success, topping out at #19 on the | | | | Are you ready to leave your heart in San Francisco? |
| Billboard Hot 100 chart. But the song showed enough | | | | If you are, youll be in excellent company! According |
| tenacity on other charts to eventually become a gold | | | | to the citys website, San Francisco draws more than |
| record. It even won a Grammy Award for Best | | | | fifteen million visitors a year, including thousands of |
| Record and Top Male Vocal. | | | | honeymooners and countless couples looking for the |
| Notwithstanding Bennetts hit with "I Left My Heart in | | | | perfect romantic getaway. See you soon in the City |
| San Francisco", the singers fortunes took a turn for | | | | by the Bay! |