Tony DeSare Set for Residency at Bemelmans Bar in The Carlyle

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, is pleased to welcome Tony DeSare, originator of the Sunday Night Bemelmans series, back to Bemelmans Bar for an extended Sunday night residency. Named a "Rising Star" male vocalist in Downtown magazine's recent Critics' Poll, DeSare has lived up to the distinction by winning critical and popular acclaim for his performances throughout the US and across the globe. DeSare has three top ten Billboard Jazz albums under his belt and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR and the Today Show. His music was recently posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei. Tony DeSare (piano/vocals) will be accompanied by Ed Decker (guitar) and Steve Doyle (bass) as a trio throughout the residency. They'll bring their fresh take on old school classics to Bemelmans Sunday nights, January 4-25; February 8 and 15; March 1 and 8.

Bemelmans Bar is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street @ Madison Avenue). Tony DeSare will play Sundays in January, February and March at 9:00 p.m. Bar seating is $15 per person and table seating is $25 per person. Reservations not accepted; tables available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For additional information, visit www.thecarlyle.com.

Notwithstanding his critically acclaimed turns as a singer/pianist, Tony DeSare is also an accomplished award-winning composer. Tony has written the theme song for the motion picture, My Date With Drew, along with several broadcast commercials. His compositions include a wide-range of romantic, funny and soulful tunes that can be found on his top-selling recordings as well as on his YouTube page, which has accumulated nearly one million total views. Tony has also made numerous symphony appearances this season including The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, the Dallas Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and The Philly Pops.

"He is two parts Sinatra to one part Billy Joel, meshed seamlessly.... A Sinatra acolyte in his early 30s who sings Prince as well as Johnny Mercer," raves The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal adds its own flattering comparisons, stating, "He is one third Bobby Darin, one third Bobby Short and one third Bobby Kennedy." Rounding out the accolades is USA Today, proclaiming "DeSare belongs to a group of neo-traditional upstarts stretching from Harry Connick, Jr., to Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum. DeSare covers old and newer pop and jazz standards without smothering or over-thinking the material."

Named in honor of Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the classic Madeline children's books, Bemelmans Bar is a timeless location that continues to attract socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls with its extensive drink menu and nightly live entertainment.

The bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Guests are charmed by its distinct New York style and the large-scale murals in the hotel bar, the only surviving Bemelmans' commission open to the public.

The Carlyle is an integral part of New York history. As the city's premier luxury residential hotel, it was a famous gathering place for socialites, world leaders and celebrities when Ludwig Bemelmans began to create his masterpiece murals at the hotel bar. Bemelmans was a successful artist for The New Yorker, Vogue and Town and Country and had achieved enormous success with the Madeline children's books series. Using his distinct style of art, he transformed the bar with whimsical scenes of Central Park that included picnicking rabbits and ice skating elephants. Rather than be paid for his art, Bemelmans exchanged his work for a year and a half of accommodations at The Carlyle for himself and his family.

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