I met him once, you know.

I’m talking about Tony Bennett, who celebrates his 90th birthday today. I was at a recording of Danny Baker’s BBC chat show about twenty years ago and Tony Bennett was a guest, promoting his Unplugged album. Great singers from Frank Sinatra to Amy Winehouse have proclaimed Tony Bennett the greatest of them all. And that performance at the BBC, I could see what they meant. Even though he’d have been about 70, his voice, his style, his phrasing, everything about him was magnificent. At 90, he’s still going strong – about to record a new album with Lady Gaga. Afterwards in the green room, I shook hands with him. What did I say? Probably nothing but oh my God, I shook hands with Tony Bennett! I’ll die happy.