Tony Bennett donates a painting to museum

Tony Bennett is donating a water colour he made of jazz great to a museum.

Washington, April 30: Singer Tony Bennett is donating a water colour he made of jazz great Duke Ellington to a Smithsonian museum in Washington, DC Bennett said Wednesday that the painting was inspired by his long time friendship with Ellington. The painting depicts Ellington with a bouquet of pink roses in the background.

The jazz musician made a habit of sending Bennett a dozen roses every time Ellington composed a new song. The 82-year-old Bennett says he has been a lifelong painter. He says painting always keeps him in a "creative zone" if he gets tired of singing. This is the third painting he has donated to the Smithsonian. The National Portrait Gallery is adding the new painting to its halls on the 110th anniversary of Ellington`s birth. Bureau Report