When Tony Bennett first performed "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the Fairmont Hotel in 1961, he probably never imagined he would be rappelling down the hotel's facade some forty years later at a block party in his honor.
On June 2, the 18-time Grammy winner helped celebrate the unveiling of Tony Bennett Way, located in front of the Fairmont Hotel, with a death-defying stunt before performing his signature song.
"This is a day I'll never forget, it's so beautiful,” said Bennet. “The sun is out and it's San Francisco at its best right now. Thank you for being so wonderful to me.”
Tony Bennett Way celebrations closed down the block outside the hotel with live music (including multiple renditions from Bennett’s illustrious catalog of music) and street performers dancing behind the Tony Bennett statue (erected at the Fairmont Hotel in 2016).
Among the luminaries who gathered for the reveal of Tony Bennett Way were Senator Dianne Feinstein, Representative Nancy Pelosi and Former Mayor Willie L. Brown.
“You bring honor to our city,”said Pelosi. “And luster to this street.”
We couldn't agree more.