Person of the Week: Tony Bennett

August 4, 2006 — -- Tony Bennett has lived a lifetime in front of his fans, on the stage and in the spotlight.

He celebrated his 80th birthday Thursday and took a moment to speak with ABC News to let us in on his secret for success.

"You know, [Frank] Sinatra was my best friend. He gave me the best advice. … Ten years my elder, he was my master," Bennett said. "He said, 'Stay away from bad songs, just do great songs.'"

So Bennett focused on the American songbook, which he described as timeless."They're not old songs. They're great, great songs that no one will ever top," he said.

Somehow when he sings songs like "Steppin' Out With My Baby," they sound new.

"I like challenges. I don't like to be put in a box and say 'this is who Tony Bennett is,'" he said.

He first faced those challenges as a child, singing with his family in New York.

"Every Sunday all my relatives would come by with guitars, mandolins, banjos and everything," he said. "My relatives were so inspiring to me."

As he enjoyed success as a singer, Bennett moved his energy into a second artform, adding painting to his work as a performer.

"I've always had to sing, and I've had to paint. … It's the two things that I love," Bennett said. "I would suggest to anybody out there, if you have to work, make sure you like it.

"It never becomes work, I've never felt like even taking a vacation," Bennett added. "I'm on a perpetual vacation."

That "vacation" continues with an album of duets due out next month, with Bennett performing with Barbra Streisand, Bono, Elton John, John Legend and the Dixie Chicks, among others.

All the duets were performed live, and not blended through technology.