NBC will warm up the season next week with specials featuring two music icons. Michael Buble and Tony Bennett will air back-to-back specials on Tuesday, December 20.
First up is Michael Buble Sings and Swings which was recorded in front of a live audience in Manchester, England. During the special, Buble is not only backed by his own band, but also 50 members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. NBC says that he performs “at his absolute best.” Some of the music featured in the special include “Nobody but Me,” “Always on My Mind,” “Home,” “God Only Knows,” and “Feeling Good.”
“Michael Bublé Sings and Swings” [Image by NBC]
Michael Buble is a four-time Grammy winner, has had five No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top 200 pop charts, and has sold more than 55 million albums to date.
Michael’s TV special was taped in October of this year. Shortly thereafter, he learned that his son had been diagnosed with cancer . On November 4, Michael posted his message on his personal website:
“We are devastated about the recent cancer diagnosis of our oldest son Noah who is currently undergoing treatment in the US. We have always been very vocal about the importance of family and the love we have for our children. Luisana and I have put our careers on hold in order to devote all our time and attention to helping Noah get well. At this difficult time, we ask only for your prayers and respect for our privacy. We have a long journey in front of us and hope that with the support of family, friends and fans around the world, we will win this battle, God willing.”
Alec Baldwin hosts “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come.” [Image by NBC]
Following the Michael Buble special is the two-hour Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come hosted by Alec Baldwin. Filmed last September at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Bennett was surrounded by friends who gave special birthday tributes including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Elton John, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Madonna, Leslie Odom, Jr., Kevin Spacey, Stevie Wonder, Rufus Wainwright, and Michael Buble. The telecast also features appearances by Garth Brooks, Steve Buscemi, Robert De Niro, Celine Dion, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Wynton Marsalis, Paul McCartney, John McEnroe, Miss Piggy, Regis Philbin, Keith Richards, Don Rickles, Homer Simpson, Carrie Underwood, Bruce Willis, Oprah Winfrey, and Trisha Yearwood.
Tony Bennett’s birthday party will also include segments of Bennett reminiscing about different events he has experienced over the last 90 years punctuated with archival footage and photos.
In celebration of the Tony Bennett special, a companion CD, Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 , has been created featuring the musical performances of the night and will be released ahead of the broadcast on Friday, December 16. The companion package also comes with a 28-page booklet that contains appreciation essays by other well-known celebrities including President Bill Clinton, Martin Scorsese, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mandel, Bill Charlap, and Everett Raymond Kinstler. A deluxe version will also be available containing three CDs that contain rare and even never-before-released archival studio and live Tony Bennett recordings. The deluxe set will only be available through Amazon.
“Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come.” [Image by NBC]
Michael Buble has a lot of work cut out for him if he wants to catch up to Tony Bennett. Bennett has won 19 Grammy awards in different genres and styles. He has created 57 studio albums, 11 live albums, 31 compilation albums, and 81 singles. As if that wasn’t enough, Bennett also holds the distinction of being the oldest musical artist to place an album at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200. He did that when he was still a young 88 years old.
Michael Buble Sings and Swings begins at 8:00 p.m. followed by Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20, on NBC.
