“Kid, You Steal from One, You’re Just a Thief…”: Tony Bennett’s 11-Word Lesson That Redefined Michael Bublé’s Approach to Music

In the golden lineage of crooners—from Sinatra to Bennett to Bublé—the line between homage and imitation has always been razor-thin. For Michael Bublé, that line nearly became a source of creative crisis, until an 11-word lesson from the late Tony Bennett reframed everything he believed about artistry, originality, and influence.

🎙 The Confession That Sparked a Master’s Advice

In an interview reflecting on his early career, Bublé admitted to the legendary Tony Bennett that he had “stolen” much of his style from three icons—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bennett himself. It was an honest confession from a young artist deeply devoted to the traditions of the Great American Songbook but fearful he was merely repeating what had come before.

Tony Bennett, known not only for his timeless voice but also his wisdom and mentorship of younger musicians, smiled and delivered a line that would become both a guiding principle and a legend in itself:
“Kid, you steal from one, you’re just a thief. But when you steal from everyone, you can call it research.”

🎵 From Copying to Craft: The Lesson of Influence

Bennett’s remark wasn’t a dismissal of Bublé’s confession—it was a challenge. The message was clear: draw inspiration from everywhere, not just one source. True artistry, Bennett implied, lies in absorbing the best from many voices and transforming it into something distinct.

For Bublé, who had spent his early years meticulously studying Sinatra’s phrasing, Dean Martin’s effortless charm, and Bennett’s phrasing and warmth, the advice became a turning point. It liberated him from the fear of imitation and encouraged him to broaden his artistic palette—to listen to jazz innovators, big-band arrangers, and contemporary stylists with equal respect.

🎤 The Mentorship That Shaped a Career

Bublé and Bennett’s relationship blossomed into one of genuine mentorship and collaboration. They performed together on Bennett’s acclaimed Duets projects—first in 2006 with “Just in Time” and again in 2011 with “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Both performances revealed the effortless chemistry between the modern crooner and his idol, two artists linked by tradition but separated by generation.

Bennett’s influence on Bublé extended far beyond the microphone. The lesson about “stealing from everyone” became a philosophy for creative growth. It reminded Bublé that every genre, every performer, every era of music had something valuable to offer—and that originality often arises not from isolation, but from synthesis.

🎶 Legacy Through Learning: From Inspiration to Innovation

The results of that lesson are evident across Bublé’s later work. His 2011 album Christmas, one of the best-selling holiday albums of all time, drew inspiration from a century of festive standards while still sounding uniquely his. Later records blended traditional jazz with contemporary pop and orchestral influences, demonstrating his ability to honor the past while crafting something unmistakably his own.

Even in his current role as a coach on The Voice, Bublé echoes Bennett’s wisdom—urging young singers to listen widely, learn deeply, and never fear drawing from the greats.

🌟 The Timeless Truth of a Crooner’s Lesson

Tony Bennett’s 11-word maxim has since taken on a life of its own in creative circles, encapsulating a universal truth about artistry: originality doesn’t mean creating in a vacuum—it means transforming what inspires you into something new.

For Michael Bublé, those few words didn’t just redefine his music; they gave him permission to explore, expand, and evolve. And in doing so, he ensured that the torch of timeless music—passed down from Bennett and Sinatra—would continue to burn bright in a voice entirely his own.