Great Performances: Tony Bennett: Duets II Nominated For Prime-Time Emmy In "Outstanding Variety Special" Category

NEW YORK, July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tony Bennett: Duets II, a presentation of THIRTEEN's Great Performances, that premiered on PBS in January, 2012 was nominated for a Prime-Time Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Variety Special."  Tony Bennett: Duets II featured the 17-time Grammy Award winner's greatest hits, performed by Bennett and today's biggest stars, including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, Faith Hill, Norah Jones, Lady Gaga, k.d. lang, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Alejandro Sanz, Carrie Underwood, and Amy Winehouse. Tony Bennett: Duets II was produced by RPM TV Productions, Inc, with  Danny Bennett, Executive Producer and Jennifer LeBeau, Producer.  For Great Performances, Bill O'Donnell is series producer; David Horn is executive producer.  Tony Bennett's last prime-time television special, Tony Bennett: An American Classic, won seven Emmy Awards making it the most honored program at the 2007 Emmy Awards.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120719/NY43210 )

Tony Bennett made music history with the Grammy-nominated CD Duets II when it debuted at the top of the Billboard Album charts, making Bennett the oldest vocal artist ever to achieve the number one spot.  Released in conjunction with Bennett's 85th birthday, the platinum selling release, which won three Grammy Awards earlier this year, followed the singer's Grammy-winning 2006 Duets CD which had, in turn, been released in honor of his 80th birthday.

The album took over six months to record with each track recorded face-to-face with his singing partners in studios around the world, from LA to Nashville to London.  Among the many highlights is Amy Winehouse's last recorded track ('Body and Soul'), which was produced in London's famous Abbey Road Studios in March.  Other tracks were recorded in New York in late July: the Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart classic, "The Lady Is A Tramp" with Lady Gaga, and the Alan and Marilyn Bergman classic, "How Do You Keep The Music Playing," with Aretha Franklin, and "Stranger in Paradise" with Andrea Bocelli, recorded at the singer's Italian home (see full track listing below).  The musical segments were highlighted by insights on the process from the performers, making for an up-close look at one of the year's most celebrated recordings.  The sessions were filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe ("Chicago," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Collateral"), providing a personal, behind-the-scenes look at Bennett's latest collaborations and his artistic approach with each song.  Tony Bennett: Duets II/The Great Performances is available on DVD at retail outlets nationwide.

The full song program for Great Performances: Tony Bennett: DUETS II :

"The Lady is a Tramp" (Lady Gaga)
"One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) (John Mayer)
"Body and Soul" (Amy Winehouse)
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Michael Buble)
"Blue Velvet" (k.d. lang)
"How Do You Keep the Music Playing" (Aretha Franklin)
"The Girl I Love" (Sheryl Crow)
"On the Sunny Side of the Street" (Willie Nelson)
"Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) (Queen Latifah)
"Speak Low" (Norah Jones)
"This Is All I Ask" (Josh Groban)
"Watch What Happens" (Natalie Cole)
"Stranger in Paradise" (Andrea Bocelli)
"The Way You Look Tonight" (Faith Hill)
"Yesterday I Heard the Rain" (Alejandro Sanz)
"It Had to Be You" (Carrie Underwood)

SOURCE RPM Records/Columbia Records