Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born on August 3, 1926, in Queens, New York. His parents, John and Anna (née Suraci), both had family who came from Calabria, Italy. He was the youngest child and had an older brother and an older sister. As a child Tony loved to paint and sing. When he was a teenager, he began to use the stage name Joe Bari and often performed at Italian restaurants and clubs all over the city.

In 1944, Tony enlisted in the U.S. Army. While in Europe, he would often perform in military bands for his fellow soldiers. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the American Theatre Wing in New York City where he studied professional singing. In 1949, Pearl Bailey invited Tony to open for her at her show in Greenwich Village. Bob Hope took notice of the young amateur and introduced him to the music executives at Columbia Records. 

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