Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga to Play The Kennedy Center This Summer

The Kennedy Center presents two stellar performances by pop music icons and multiple Grammy winners Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga on Friday, July 31, 2015 and Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The special engagement is part of a series of presentations that celebrate their critically acclaimed collaborative jazz album Cheek To Cheek. From upcoming sold-out appearances at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Wiltern in Los Angeles to a recent New Year's Eve concert at The Chelsea in Las Vegas, Bennett and Gaga have dazzled audiences around the world and will now take over Washington, D.C. for two nights only. In following the record's format, the Kennedy Center shows will feature renditions of classic jazz standards sung by the stars in a combination of solos and duets. Both artists will be with each artist's jazz ensembles, who also serve as special guests for the evening.

Nominated for a Grammy Award, Cheek To Cheek was released in September 2014 and instantly secured its place as a favorite of fans and critics alike, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, Jazz Albums, and Traditional Jazz Albums charts. The astounding musical collaboration pays homage to tunes from the Great American Songbook composed by jazz legends like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Irving Berlin. Some of these timeless songs include "But Beautiful," "I Won't Dance," "Nature Boy," "Anything Goes," and "I Can't Give You Anything but Love." The record has been praised for effectively highlighting the chemistry between the two artists, who span 60 years in age. Its unprecedented success makes Bennett the oldest artist to have a #1 album on the Billboard charts and marks Lady Gaga's third consecutive #1 release in the last few years.

New York-born singer Tony Bennett embodies American music at its sweetest and its best. Frank Sinatra once praised him as "the best singer in the business." He has performed with everyone from Bill Evans and Count Basie to Elvis Costello and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, reflecting a high level of versatility and comfort on the stage. Mr. Bennett had his first singing gig at the age of 10, on stage with New York's legendary Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at the 1936 opening of the Triborough Bridge. After six decades, many gold and platinum records, and 10 Grammys including a Lifetime Achievement Award, he achieved an unprecedented hit with his own MTV Unplugged (1994). His artistry continually reveals the timeless gifts of the Great American Songbook, which make up a growing legacy that so far includes more than 50 million albums sold. With his husky warm and easy tenor, his always surprising jazzy phrasing, and his pitch-perfect sense of emotional truth, Mr. Bennett makes music matter. Mr. Bennett was the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honors in 2005.

Singer-songwriter Lady Gaga has led a whirlwind career in show business thus far. Having being accepted at the CAP21 program through New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she dropped out to pursue a musical career. She then performed in a variety of settings which eventually drove her to work as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. It was there that R&B and hip-hop artist Akon made note of her vocal abilities and developed a deal for her with Interscope Records and his own KonLive Distribution. Since then Lady Gaga has been on the fast track to becoming a worldwide sensation, from the chart-topping success of her debut album The Fame (2008) to the continued praise of subsequent records including her third full-length album Artpop (2013). She has garnered recognition for her flamboyant and diverse sense of fashion, live performances, and music videos. Lady Gaga has sold more than 27 million albums across the globe and is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. To date, she has won numerous accolades including five Grammy Awards, 13 MTV Video Music Awards, and 13 Guinness World Records. In 2010, Time Magazine named her one of the world's most influential people.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga perform July 31 and August 1, 2015 at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall. Tickets start at $125 and will go on sale to the public on March 11. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Kennedy Center box office, by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600, or through the Kennedy Center website at kennedy-center.org.

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