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Despite the backlash after the announcement of his appointment as Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) chief executive, Anele Qaba is determined to regain ground on what he called the agency’s five lost years.
weren't sure what would happen when he got on stage, just to see that big smile and him raising his hands when he saw the crowd. what was it like to watch that? >> yeah, i got to watch it in the wings as he went out. it was incredible. wow was a word that, you know, in the midst of the ravages of the disease, that was a word he used a lot to sort of get through conversations, he could say, wow, there were phrases he used. but, that wow, was, that was a different kind of a wow, i mean, you could tell he heard the love of the audience, 6,000 seats, he played for three nights with gaga, and you're right, there were a lot of people in the circle of tony, his son, danny who did incredible things for his career. his manager, his wife susan, as you mentioned, an
show. ♪ >> reporter: the crooner's unique voice and timeless style helped him win a total of 19 grammys and two emmys throughout his career. >> maybe the best pop singer in the whole world. >> i asked him why do you think we stayed around so long? and he said we stayed with good songs. >> reporter: but the classics weren't always hits. in the '70s, bennett found himself without a recording contract, he was in debt and battling a drug problem. >> i realized that i thought i was doing well with the drugs and i really wasn't. >> reporter: that's when bennett's son danny stepped in as his manager. bennett re-signed with colombia records and began to revitalize his career. it was then he discovered a new audience, the mtv generation. >> look, it's tony bennett! >> good to see you. >> the simpsons, we did a
career blessings i had to be there with him and be there with him in the days ahead of his incredible performances and also a blessing to see the beauty of the relationship he had with his wife susan, with his son danny, who was his manager, who got him -- who kept him current and, you know, vital and just as susan did and his whole family and his doctor, and lady gaga, god bless her for the work she did with him and energy she gave him. >> the way you describe and share add poinency at the end. she gave that beautiful answer. what did you learn about his friends and loved ones about how they viewed him in the best of days, but even as he struggled? >> you know, even -- look,
them and i'm certainly going to tell me that's really american. but what was happening was that we were in the studio, he was standing in the middle of the room. the studio was right in front of us, the recording booth. his son day was sitting at the recording console and susan bennett was standing right there behind the glass about ten feet away. we started the take. he looked directly at her and he sang the whole song right susan. that's the take. it was direct. waits story and he was singing right to her and it was a reliefy beautiful moment. >> that is beautiful and thanks for sharing your memories tonight. >> i'm so glad to be with you. the world misses tony bennetts. >> to be nervous means you care. i love that. we'll be right back.
he had not said hello gaga. he lady gaga. all the time that they were rehearsing. and she was not sure he knew who she was. or robert her name.and at the final night of their final performance ããshe comes out for the final songs and he goes and turns and sees her and his eyes lit up and said wow and then he paused. and he goes lady gaga. and you could see her just ãã i mean ããthe tears came and everybody in the audience. i mean literally ãã [indiscernible] it was incredible. it's one of the great amazing career blessings that i've had to be there that night. and to be there with him in the days ahead of his incredible performances. and also a blessing to see the relationship he had with his wife susan, with his same danny, who was his manager and kept him current and you know, a vital and just as susan did and his whole family and his doctor guy to debbie.
face, raised his hands in amazement, what was it like to watch that? >> i got to watch it from the wings and be there as he went out. it was incredible. the wow was a word that in the midst of the ravages of the disease that was a word he used a lot to sort of get through conversation. he could say wow. there were phrases he used but that wow was a different kind after wow. you could tell he heard the love of the audience 6,000 seats he played for three nights, it was just incredible and you're right there were a lot of people in the circle of tony, his son, danny, who did incredible things for his career as his manager, his wife susan an extraordinary care giver and partner in his life and at the end of his career but there were a lot of people up sure what would happen
♪ i never bother with people that i hate that's why this chick is a tramp ♪ >> his voice never failed him. prominent musicians have been paying their reports to tony bennett with touching messages about what the singer meant to them. billy joel says, "tony bennett was one of the most important interpreters of american popular song ding the mid to late 20th century. he championed songwriters who might otherwise have remained unknown to many millions of music fans." eln john said, quote, so sad to hear of tony's passing. without doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see. he is irreplaceable. i loved and adored him. condolences to susan, danny, and the family. tony bennett made a big impact on fellow singers, as well. harry connick jr. and michael back
he won his first grammy award in 1963 for his song "i left my heart in san francisco," and performed it on "the julie garland show." ♪ i left my heart ♪ [ applause ] >> reporter: the crooner's unique voice and timeless style helped him win 19 grammys and two emmys throughout his career. >> tony bennett, ladies and gentlemen. maybe the best pop singer in the whole world. >> i asked sinatra why do you think we stayed around so long. and he said because we stayed with good songs. >> reporter: but the classics weren't always hits. in the '70s, bennett found himself without a recording contract. he was in debt and batting a drug problem. >> i realized that i thought i was doing well with the drugs, and it -- i really wasn't. >> reporter: that's when bennett's son danny stepped in as his manager. bennett resigned with columbia records and began to revitalize his career. he discovered a new audience -- the mtv generation.
>> reporter: bennett had a string of hits in the '50s but the best was yet to come. he won his first grammy award in 1963 for his song "i left my heart in san francisco" and performed it on the judy garland show ♪ i left my heart ♪ >> reporter: the crooner's unique voice and timeless style helped him win a total of 19 grammy's and two emmys throughout his career. >> tony bennett, ladies and gentlemen. maybe the best pop singer in the whole world. >> you know, i asked sinatra why do you think we stayed around for so long, he said because we stayed with good songs. >> reporter: but the classics weren't always his. in the '70s bennett found himself without a recording contract. he was in debt and battling a drug problem. >> i realized that i thought i was doing well with the drugs and i really wasn't. >> reporter: that's when bennett's son danny stepped in as his manager. bennett resigned with columbia