San Francisco pays tribute to Tony Bennett

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco celebrated a special anniversary Tuesday and gave tribute to the man who sang its signature song.

For the 50th anniversary of Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," Bennett was back on stage singing in the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel where he sang the song for the first time 50 years ago.

The 85-year-old said he never thought it would be a smash. "I was still thinking that it would be a local song just for this area, and having no idea how it changed my life so much because it became my signature song," he said.

For a guy who knows his way around a song, he also knows how to make an entrance and he did just that at the Rotunda of City Hall with Mayor Ed Lee and his wife. It was a celebration of the song that has become the city anthem.

Politicians paid tributes to Tony and the song. It is a song that has an international language and it is why the mayor made February 14 Tony Bennett Day in San Francisco. "It's been the most beautiful day I've ever experienced in the whole history of my performing years," Bennett said.

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valentine's day, san francisco city hall, entertainment, don sanchez

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