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Bobby Short, Still Holding Court at the Carlyle Singer and pianist Bobby Short has one of the most distinctive voices in the music world, and for 37 years he's been holding court in one of the most distinctive jazz venues around — the Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan. Now 80 years old, he's still going strong, and talks to NPR's Tavis Smiley about his long career.

Music

Bobby Short, Still Holding Court at the Carlyle

Heard on The Tavis Smiley Show

Bobby Short, Still Holding Court at the Carlyle

Audio will be available later today.

Bobby Short Live

Hear full-length cuts from the live CD 'Late Night at the Cafe Carlyle'

'Do I Hear You Saying I Love You?'

Audio will be available later today.

'I Get a Kick Out of You'

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Web Extra: Hear an Extended Conversation Between Bobby Short and Tavis Smiley

Audio will be available later today.

Singer and pianist Bobby Short has one of the most distinctive voices in the music world, and for 37 years he's been holding court in one of the most distinctive jazz venues around -- the Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan.

Bobby Short and his ensemble perform at the 40th anniversary concert honoring Atlantic Records, May 1988. Henry Diltz/Corbis hide caption

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Henry Diltz/Corbis

He and his ensemble play jazz standards -- think Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington -- with a high-class polish and enthusiasm. But earlier this year, Short announced that this would be his final run at the Carlyle.

Fans and newspaper columnists loudly objected, and last month the 80-year-old Short changed his mind. NPR's Tavis Smiley talks to the legendary entertainer at his home in Manhattan's Upper East Side, where he was playing tunes at his piano.