Michael B Jordan Remembers Childhood Encounter with Tony Bennett

With his first Golden Globe nomination now under his belt for the lively vampire caper Sinners, Michael B Jordan appears poised for even greater heights. Already a familiar face in the industry thanks to his roles in the Creed series and Marvel’s Black Panther, Jordan’s portrayal of twin brothers in Sinners—helmed by his frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler—has been widely praised. An Oscar nod seems within reach, though this year’s competition is particularly fierce, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Edgerton, and Jesse Plemons all delivering standout performances. Yet, Jordan seems unfazed by the awards race, keeping his focus on a packed slate of upcoming projects both in front of and behind the camera.

He recently directed the latest chapter in the Creed saga and is already preparing for a fourth. In addition, he is set to star in and direct a new version of the classic Steve McQueen art heist, The Thomas Crown Affair. Jordan will also feature in Rainbow Six, his second adaptation of Tom Clancy’s work following 2021’s Without Remorse. It was during the promotion of that film that he spoke about his move from the East Coast to the West, and a memorable encounter from his childhood involving the legendary Tony Bennett.

Early Days and a Memorable Meeting

Back in 1998, when Jordan was just eleven, Bennett visited New York to shoot the cover for The Playground, an album of children’s songs. The cover features Bennett beaming in the foreground, with a group of children playing behind him—one of whom was a young Michael B Jordan. Reflecting on the experience, Jordan recalled,

“I was 11 years old, so I didn’t know much about him. But I remember him being very nice. He signed autographs for everybody and everything. It was cool.”

Although Bennett was born in New York and spent much of his early career performing in New Jersey clubs, he is perhaps best known for his enduring association with San Francisco, thanks to his signature song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’. Over the decades, Bennett achieved global fame, selling more than 50 million records and earning a reputation as one of the finest jazz vocalists of his era. His final album, a collection of duets with Lady Gaga, was released in 2021, two years before his death at the age of 96.

Music’s Lasting Influence on Jordan

Jordan’s passion for music is well documented and plays a significant role in his creative process, particularly in Sinners. He has often shared videos of himself singing along to R&B tracks on social media and has appeared in music videos, including one for Swedish artist Snoh Alegra. While preparing for his role in Without Remorse, he curated a playlist of songs to help him get into character, later sharing it with fans on Spotify.

Looking ahead, Jordan has several projects in the pipeline, such as Methuselah, an action film directed by Danny Boyle about a man who has lived for a thousand years and possesses extraordinary combat skills. As his career continues to evolve, Jordan’s early brush with Tony Bennett remains a charming footnote in a journey marked by both artistic ambition and a genuine love for music.