Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, k.d. lang and Diana Krall will make guest appearances on Tony Bennett's next album, Playing With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, which is due this fall. The album will be Bennett's first since 1999's Grammy-winning Duke Ellington tribute, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool.

The seemingly ageless Bennett will launch a twenty-two-date U.S. tour with lang on July 25th in Portland, Maine. While on tour, the crooner will also celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday (August 3rd).

As for lang, her popular appearance on A&E Live by Request, a show developed by Bennett with his son/manager Danny Bennett, will be released as a CD, DVD and VHS on August 14th.

Tony Bennett/k.d. lang tour dates:

7/25: Portland, ME, Cumberland Civic Center
7/27: Columbus, OH, Polaris Amphitheater
7/29: Sterling Heights, MI, Freedom Hill Amphitheater
7/31: Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
8/3: Charlotte, NC, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8/4: Greenville, SC, Pepsi Pavilion @ Bi-Lo Center
8/5: Raleigh, NC, Alltel Pavilion @ Walnut Creek
8/7: Houston, Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion
8/9: Indianapolis, Verizon Wireless Music Center
8/21: Montreal, Molson Centre
8/22: Camden, NJ, Tweeter Center
8/24: Candaigua, NY, Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center
8/25: Scranton, PA, Coors Light Amphitheater
8/26: Saratoga Springs, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8/29: Durham, NH, Whittemore Center Arena
8/30: Boston, Fleet Boston Pavilion
8/31: Wallingford, CT, Oakdale Theatre
9/8: Minneapolis, Target Center
9/9: Kansas City, Starlight Theatre
9/11: Denver, Fiddler's Green Amphitheater
9/13: Concord, CA, Chronicle Pavilion
9/15: Los Angeles, Greek Theatre, CA
9/29: New York, Radio City Music Hall

ANDREW DANSBY
(June 13, 2001)