New Book 'LIFE Unseen: Tony Bennett' Features Rare Photos and More

Tony Bennett is a living legend and one of the most popular entertainers of all-time. To celebrate the extraordinary life and storied career of the 88-year-old music icon and 17-time Grammy-winning singer, LIFE and Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Records released LIFE Unseen: Tony Bennett (Time Home Entertainment Inc.; Hardcover; 196 pages, $29.95) yesterday, Nov. 4. The one-of-a-kind book will feature rare and never-before-seen photos of Bennett from the archives of Sony Music Entertainment -- many of them intimate images of the legendary crooner taken during quiet and tender moments.

Through a treasure trove of photos, compelling narrative and interviews with Bennett himself, the book tells the story of the superstar showman from his childhood in Queens and Army service on the front lines during World War II to his early stardom in the 1950s and family life to his illustrious musical career, which has spanned more than seven decades. There are touching never-before-seen photos of Bennett playing with his children at home and outtakes from recording sessions as well as images of him in his old Queens neighborhood and in San Francisco, and even a rarely seen photo of Bennett singing "O Sole Mio" on the same Calabria, Italy, mountaintop where his father once stood.

LIFE Unseen: Tony Bennett is the second in a unique new series of illustrated biographies presented by LIFE and Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings. LIFE Unseen presents the world's biggest music stars, past and present, as you've never seen or known them. The books feature rare and exclusive photos from the archives of Sony Music Entertainment. The series kicked off in August 2013 with the release of LIFE Unseen: Johnny Cash.

About LIFE - The editors at LIFE vigorously carry on the traditions of excellence in photography, journalism and storytelling of and about our country and our world, which began with the founding of LIFE magazine in 1936 by editor and publisher Henry R. Luce. LIFE has published books on a broad range of subjects, including New York Times bestsellers One Nation, LIFE Picture Puzzle and The American Journey of Barack Obama. The LIFE channel on TIME.com features LIFE's legendary photo archives. The acclaimed LIFE for iPad app reached #1 in 33 countries not long after its November 2010 launch.

About Sony Music Entertainment - Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including Arista Nashville, Beach Street Records, Bystorm Entertainment, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, Kemosabe Records, Legacy Recordings, MASTERWORKS, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, Reunion Records, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Syco Music, RCA Inspiration and Volcano. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

LIFE UNSEEN: Tony Bennett: An Illustrated Biography

By the Editors of Life with Sony Music Entertainment

Time Home Entertainment, Inc.

Publication date: November 4, 2014

Hardcover; 196 pages; $29.95 US/$32.95 CAN

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