Patricia Beech Became Tony Bennett’s First Wife — He Was ‘Taken with Her Beauty’

Patricia Beech was minding her own business when a man, immediately besotted with her, asked her on a date. From there, her life became a whirlwind. Learn more about the untold story of Tony Bennet’s first wife.

Patricia Beech, Tony Bennett’s first wife, rose to fame after she became romantically involved with the singer. The two said their “I do’s” in 1952 when Beech was just 19 years old.

Bennet’s fans were devastated when he walked down the aisle with this art student. Thousands of them stood outside the ceremonial venue wearing black as a gesture of mourning.

Tony Bennett and Patricia Beech unpacking their silver around the mid-1950s. | Source: Getty Images

A TIMELINE OF PATRICIA BEECH AND TONY BENNET’S RELATIONSHIP

Spotting his future wife and then-art student while at a venue he would be singing at, Bennet’s breath was immediately taken away. In his book “The Good Life,” Bennett recalled:

“I met and fell in love with a young woman named Patricia Beech in July of 1951. I was singing at Moe’s Main Street in Cleveland, Ohio, and one night she came in with a date. I could see her from the stage — she was sitting ringside — and I was taken with her beauty.”’

Luckily for the singer, Beech’s date asked him if he wanted to join them, and of course, he did not hesitate to say yes. He wasted no time asking for her number, and they went out on their first date the next day.

Tony Bennett as a teenager. | Source: Getty Images

Two months later, after he had to leave, the singer convinced Beech to come to visit him in New York City, and soon after, she moved there and found work as a broker. Then came the engagement, as Bennet remembered it:

“I was headlining the Paramount again for the Christmas holidays. So during my show, I announced my intentions to the world which was a surprise to Patricia. I was fortunate that she wanted to marry me as much as I wanted to marry her.”

Ray Muscarella, Bennet’s manager, was not pleased about his client’s plans for marital commitment. So, the singer alleged, he tried to sabotage him and Beech’s wedding day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Bennet alleged that his manager coordinated the scene of women mourning their wedding day.

Tony Bennett and Patricia Beech leaving St. Patrick’s Cathedral in their wedding car on February 12, 1952 after marrying. | Source: Getty Images

He claimed that some crazed fans would not let his future wife walk up the steps to her wedidng. Luckily, the newlywed couple had a two-week honeymoon in the Bahamas to shake off all the drama.

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Tony Bennett poses with son D’Andrea. Mommy is the former Patricia Ann Beech. | Source: Getty Images

The two did not have children right away, as Beech spent time on tour with her husband for many years before the kids came along. Their first child was born on February 3, 1954, and their second child on October 15, 1955. Bennett wrote:

“When the new baby came, we felt that Patricia needed to stay at home with the kid, especially since I was scheduled to start an extensive tour…and after the tour, Patricia and I decided it was time to get a house in the suburbs where the kids could spread out.”

Beech did a tour with her husband one last time in 1957. This decision occurred after they found that the distance between them while she was home and he was on tour was hurting their marriage, but she never joined him again.

Tony Bennett meets his son, D’Andrea. His wife, Pat and newborn are in Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx. | Source: Getty Images

Sadly for the couple, the touring kept affecting their relationship, and Beech and her husband decided it would be best to move away from one another to give each other space. So, Bennett moved into a separate apartment.

After Beech and her husband kept communication lines open, things appeared to be getting better, so her spouse moved back into the family home.

Tony Bennett working in the garden of his home, circa 1960. | Source: Getty Images

However, after Beech found out about a woman her husband was getting close to, Sandra, she ended the relationship immediately. Bennett recalled:

“Patricia called me at the hotel and Sandra answered the phone. We were officially separated from that moment on.”

When it came time to work out the divorce, the pair had difficulties reaching an agreement. Beech took the reigns, serving her husband with divorce papers and taking him to court. They finalized the divorce in 1971, and Beech remained with the two children in the family home in Englewood.

Tony Bennett looking at Sandy’s work. | Source: Getty Images

PATRICIA BEECH’S CHILDREN

Beech’s two children with her ex-husband are both boys: Danny Bennett and Dae Bennett. Now a grown man, Danny also works in the entertainment industry as a film producer with two Emmy nominations and a win.

He was also his dad’s manager for over four decades and oversaw his collaborations with many prominent artists, such as John Legend, Norah Jones, Carrie Underwood, and Lady Gaga. He also has a son and was last reported in 2021 to have a girlfriend, Hadley Spanier.

Dae walked straight into his father’s musical footsteps, working as an audio editor, drummer, and producer. He currently works as a freelance audio engineer and producer. His time in the music industry has earned him seven Emmy Awards. Both brothers have also performed in rock bands together.

Tony Bennett and his wife, Sandy, play with, D’Andrea. | Source: Getty Images

From having fans mourning her wedding to her now ex-husband, touring the world, and giving birth to two highly successful young men, while Beech’s life has not been perfect, it has been exciting. Sadly, it seems that the only way to access deeper information about her is via her ex-husband’s writings.

Beyond that, we do not know much about her and what she currently does with her life. It is, however, well-known that her sons and their father have maintained a close relationship.

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