On January 14, 1952,Time Magazine featured a story on “the latest idol of the bobby-sox set” the 25 year old singer, Tony Bennett. Fifty-five years later, Bennett continues to amaze, captivating a whole new generation of fans with his distinct voice and artistry.
It’s obvious he’s passionate about music. It’s obvious he’s invested a lifetime mastering his craft. But what may not be obvious is a decision he made over five decades ago that makes him continue to stand out today.
The article describes his performance and the influence of other singers on his style and technique. But the insight for me was in the last paragraph that says,
Bennett’s voice, however, is distinctly his own; it has a diffused, no, sand-paper sound, a quality which he feels has endeared him to his fans. Says he: “At first, I tried to eliminate things like that from my voice. But I’ve decided now to let it all alone. I’ve stopped eliminating altogether.
We live in an age that obsessively, compulsively toils to the "high standard" of imitating others. Musical groups are manufactured and programmed with market researched rhythms and styles. We obscure all uniqueness and polish over all blemishes. The lack of authenticity obscures the uniqueness, the distinctiveness, the originality. In all fields of endeavor, there are too few originals, too few who truly create.
God fashioned each of us to be unique in every fiber of our being…our DNA, our fingerprints, our voices, the hairs on our head (or lack thereof), our gifts… And it’s in our uniqueness, sand paper voices and all, that we discover our distinct and creative contribution, our calling. Mix this with passion, a commitment to developing our gifts, and a love for God and others - we have the potential to be “singing” well into our last decades, amazing yet another generation with our “song”.
Embrace your uniqueness. Be who you are.
Love the uniqueness of each child. Help them become what they were made to be.
Encourage the uniqueness of each colleague and employee. Let them flourish using their gifts.
And take some time to enjoy Tony’s signature sounds. The Ultimate Tony Bennett
