Tony Bennett, the iconic New York pop and jazz singer, passed away at the age of 96.
Known for hit songs like “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Body and Soul,” and “(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco,” Bennett collaborated with notable performers such as Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra, who praised him as “the best singer in the business.” Throughout his remarkable eight-decade career, Bennett sold millions of records and earned an impressive 20 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award.
Bennett’s death was confirmed by his publicist Sylvia Weiner, stating that he died in his hometown of New York. Although the specific cause of death was not mentioned, Bennett had been battling Alzheimer’s disease since 2016.
His journey in music began as a singing waiter, and he later studied music and painting at New York’s School of Industrial Art. After serving in the US army during World War Two, he continued his singing career, achieving breakthrough success with the song “Because of You” in 1951. Despite facing personal challenges and shifts in music trends, Bennett experienced a resurgence in the 1980s and 1990s, winning numerous Grammy Awards.
Bennett’s collaboration with Lady Gaga on the album “Cheek to Cheek” in 2014 made him the oldest living act to top the US charts at 88. Even after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, he continued performing alongside Gaga, leaving a lasting impact on younger generations.
Beyond music, Bennett was also an accomplished painter, and he founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens. He is survived by his wife Susan Crow and four children: Danny, Dae, Joanna, and Antonia.
