Events Around the Bay
Tony Bennett Left his Heart at the Memorial Corner of the Fairmont
Tony Bennet (August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023) the legendary American jazz and traditional pop singer who received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and who was named by Frank Sinatra as “The best singer in the business” and who recorded his signature song “I left my Heart in San Francisco” – found his cozy memory corner at the world’s famous Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill in San Francisco.
In my communications with Michelle Heston, the Fairmont Hotel’s Director of Public Relations, she shared with me that “Few places are more intrinsically linked to Tony Bennett than Fairmont San Francisco, where the legendary performer first introduced “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in the Venetian Room in 1961, forever intertwining his legacy with the City by the Bay.”
“Today, guests can experience that remarkable history in the hotel’s Tony Bennett Memorial Area – a thoughtfully curated tribute featuring rare photographs, signed memorabilia, original artwork, and mementos celebrating Bennett’s enduring relationship with the Fairmont. At its heart is America’s Greatest City by the Bay – the iconic Hearts in San Francisco sculpture hand-painted by Tony Bennett and generously gifted to the hotel by the UCSF Foundation (formerly the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation), where it now resides as a permanent symbol of his artistic talent, philanthropy, and lifelong love for San Francisco” – adds Heston.
Together with the Tony Bennett commemorative statue on the hotel’s front lawn and its exclusive address on Tony Bennett Way, the Memorial Corner offers visitors (and locals like my son Mark Broydo) an unforgettable opportunity to experience the place where one of the world’s most beloved songs—and one of San Francisco’s most enduring cultural legacies—came to life.
And for a special treat while you visit San Francisco, consider attending the SF Giants Game and reserve The Tony Bennett Suite (Suite 1) at Oracle Park where a signature luxury rental space is located on the suite level near the right-field line. Honoring the legendary singer and lifelong San Francisco Giants fan, the suite features vintage album art, memorabilia, and scenic views of the San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, and McCovey Cove. Fairmont San Francisco: fairmont.com. Photos courtesy of the Fairmont Hotel and Mark Broydo
By Lina Broydo
