San Francisco is undeniably one of the nations favourite tourist and travel destinations. But as I was researching travel plans of my own recently, I realized that San Francisco is more than just a great place to visit. Its also an American icon, so much so, in fact, that its been depicted countless times in music, movies and television commercials. These pictures and sounds have become lastingly linked to our image of the city.
I suppose popular music is one of the best examples. For those of us who view San Francisco as a romantic destination, it may well be because of Italian singer Tony Bennetts trademark number, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". Born Anthony Benedetto, Bennett first saw the light of day in Astoria, Queens in New York City. Bennetts first big break came when Pearl Bailey hired him to open her number at a Greenwich Village club in the late 1940s. Bennett soon inked a deal with Columbia Records, jump-starting a singing career that would only grow in popularity as the Fifties rolled on.
Tony Bennett recorded and released "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" roughly at the peak of his career in the year 1962. At first, this Ballad of the Bay met with only moderate success, hitting #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. But the tune did well enough on other charts to eventually become a gold record. It even captured a Grammy for Best Record and Top Male Vocal.
Despite Bennetts hit with "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", the singers fortunes took a turn for the worse when the Beatles and other British bands invaded and conquered the American pop music scene in the mid-1960s. Those of us old enough to remember that period of American history will also remember other bands forever linked with San Franciscos claim to fame as the home of Flower Power.
In the end, Bennetts career in show business would outlast that of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead. Surprisingly, the singer got a new lease on life in the late 1980s by finding a voice for a much younger generation saturated with disco dancing, punk and new wave tunes. Appearances on Letterman, Conan OBrien and a twosome with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the MTV Video Music Awards cemented the singers hip new image.
Now nearly eight-one, Bennett still tours and performs frequently, delighting crowds with effortless performances of "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts have chosen Bennetts homage to San Francisco as one of the most important 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 a year, including thousands of honeymooners and countless couples looking for the perfect romantic getaway. See you soon in the City by the Bay!
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Matthew Paolini is a consultant with Citybook.com for the Denver, CO business Yellow Pages division.
