Tony Bennett concert to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo

One-night-only performance by multiple Grammy Award-winner Dec. 17 at UB Center for the Arts

Tickets on sale Friday, Nov. 4

The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo, announces 10th annual Ronald McDonald House Charity Holiday Concert will feature Tony Bennett, the 19-time Grammy Award-winning musician whose music spans over six decades. The show is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Tickets, $125 and $100, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4.

With worldwide record sales in the millions, and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett is a musician who touches the hearts and souls of audiences with his legendary vocals and charming stage presence. His long list of achievements, spanning over 60 years, includes 19 Grammys, and the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His signature tunes, such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" form part of the fabric of American music culture. 

Bennett celebrated his 85th birthday in 2011 with the release of "Duets II," and made music history by being the oldest artist to ever have a No. 1 record on the Billboard album charts. "Duets II," followed up "Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic," released in 2006.

2012 marked the 50^th anniversary of the singer's signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," as well as the release of a new documentary film, "The Zen of Bennett," created and conceived by Tony's son and manager, Danny Bennett.

Bennett authored his fourth book, "Life is a Gift," in 2012. It entered the New York Times Best Seller list. In 2014, he released a collaborative album with Lady Gaga, "Cheek to Cheek," featuring the two artists performing jazz standards. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album charts, once again making Bennett the oldest musical artist - at the age of 88 - to have an album top the Billboard 200. The duo won the Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Album category.

Bennett is a Kennedy Center honoree, an NEA Jazz Master and a recipient of the United Nation's Humanitarian and Citizen of the World honors. His latest release, "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern," won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

Bennett is also a talented painter. He has exhibited his work in galleries around the world, and three of his original paintings are part of the permanent collection in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Throughout his career, Bennett has put his heart and time into supporting humanitarian concerns. He joined with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the historic Selma march in 1965. Bennett's many charitable works include raising millions toward diabetes, and lending his artwork to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. 

In 2007, he was honored by the United Nations. Together with his wife, Susan, Bennett established the charitable organization, Exploring The Arts (ETA) to support arts education in public high schools. Bennett founded Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a New York City public high school in his hometown of Astoria, Queens. ETA now supports 14 additional public high schools throughout New York City and just expanded to support three public arts high schools in Los Angeles.

Locally presented by The Derico of East Amherst Corp., concert proceeds from Bennett's UB show will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo. Since opening its doors to families of seriously ill or injured children, the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo has provided comfortable, affordable lodging for 18,000 families from Western New York and around the world. The Ronald McDonald House is a family's "home-away-from-home" when their child requires specialized medical care at a Buffalo hospital.

Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts box office (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays) and online at tickets.com. To charge tickets, call 1-888-223-6000. For more information, call 716-645-2787 or visit www.ubcfa.org or www.tonybennett.com.