On February 14, Mayor London Bread announced that a cable car would be dedicated to beloved musician Tony Bennett. The iconic musician sang the iconic I Left My Heart In San Francisco for the first time at the San Francisco Fairmont in 1961. It soon became the official song of San Francisco in 1969 and continues to be a beloved song around the world today.
Cable car 53 on the California St route is adorned with traditional ribbons, specially inscribed with lyrics from Bennett’s iconic song I Left My Heart In San Francisco. The ribbons read “Halfway to the Stars, Since 1873,” referencing both the lyrics and when SF’s iconic cable cars were invented. The cable car also includes a plaque dedicated to the composers of I Left My Heart In San Francisco.
“The story of San Francisco will forever be linked with the legendary Tony Bennett,” said Mayor Breed. “Today we not only honor his legacy, but also celebrate his contributions to San Francisco’s vibrancy and progress.”
The musician won 20 Grammys throughout his long career, along with numerous other accolades. Bennet was born in 1926 in Long Island, New York, but still had many connections to San Francisco. In the 1980s, Bennett helped promote the cable car system. He even attended the reopening, making it fitting to honor him with not only an iconic part of San Francisco but something he himself was involved in. Along with being a highly awarded singer, he was also a painter throughout his lifetime. He painted one of the Hearts In San Francisco to benefit the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, which is now on display in the Fairmont Hotel.
Cable Car 53 is now in service, so make sure to look out for the special ribbons and plaque dedicated to the musician and song.