birthday boy

San Francisco Gave Tony Bennett a Statue for His 90th Birthday

San Francisco Giants Victory Parade
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Nearly 60 years ago, Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco, or so he crooned for the first time at the Fairmont Hotel in 1961, but the city returned the love with quite the 90th birthday bash. Not only did Mayor Ed Lee declare August 19 the city-wide Tony Bennett Day, but he also honored the singer with an eight-foot-tall statue outside of the aforementioned Fairmont Hotel, Billboard reports. “That’s the most beautiful statue I have ever seen,†Bennett said. “It will live in my heart forever.†Though Bennett was born and raised in New York, his rendition of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco†is something of an unofficial anthem for the city, and Bennett has been called on to perform the song on several occasions for major sporting and cultural events, including the Giants’ World Series victory parade, 49ers games, and the Golden Gate Bridge’s 50th Anniversary. See pictures of the statue below.

San Francisco Honored Tony Bennett With a Statue