San Francisco is undeniably one of Americas most popular tourist and travel destinations. However, it was only recently, while researching travel plans of my own, that it dawned on me how much of an icon the City by the Bay actually is for the American psyche. All of us have seen or heard the city depicted so many times in music, movies, or commercials that many of these pictures and sounds are now indelibly associated with our image of the city.
I suppose popular music is one of the best examples. With its colourful neighborhoods, Fishermans Wharf, and quirky cable cars, San Francisco exudes an undeniably romantic flair, something that's also reflected in Italian singer Tony Bennetts trademark number, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". Bennett, whose real name is Anthony Benedetto, was born in Astoria, Queens in New York City. He got his start when Pearl Bailey hired him to open her act at a Greenwich Village club in 1949. Bennett soon went on to sign with Columbia Records, starting a singing career that would only become more popular as the 1950s marched on.
Tony Bennett recorded and released "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" more or less at the peak of his career in the year 1962. At first, this Ballad of the Bay enjoyed only moderate success, topping out at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. But the tune showed enough tenacity on other charts to ultimately become a gold record. It even captured a Grammy for Best Record and Top Male Vocal.
Despite Bennetts success with "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", lean years were to follow for the singer when the Beatles and other British bands invaded and conquered the American pop music scene in the mid-1960s. Those of us who lived through the tumultuous Sixties will also remember other bands everlastingly linked with San Franciscos iconic image as the home of Flower Power.
In the end, Bennetts singing career would outlast that of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead. Remarkably, the performer got a new lease on life in the late 1980s by appealing to a much younger generation hungry for something besides disco, punk and new wave tunes. Gigs on Letterman, Conan OBrien and a twosome with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the MTV Video Music Awards gave the Italian crooner a newer, much hipper image.
Now in his early eighties, Bennett continues to tour and perform, delighting audiences with silky versions of "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The Recording Industry Association of America and the NEA have designated Bennetts homage to the City on the Bay as one of the most historically significant songs of the twentieth century.
Are you ready to leave your heart in San Francisco? If you are, youll be in excellent company! According to the citys website, San Francisco welcomes more than fifteen million visitors annually, including thousands of honeymooners and countless couples looking for the perfect romantic getaway. See you soon in the City by the Bay!
Matthew Paolini is
Citybook.com's technical director for the
Miami, FL business Yellow Pages division.
