NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tony Bennett, the renowned American singer who consistently maintained his popularity among younger generations of fans well into the 21st century, breathed his last on Friday, July 21 in his New York City residence. He went on to win 20 Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement award.
The "Rags to Riches" singer aged like a fine wine as he always rediscovered himself while growing older and came up with several diverse collaborations with other big names in the music industry. In his late 80s, Bennett recorded a 2014 album of duets with Lady Gaga and went on a world tour with her in 2015. His partners on his popular 'Duet' albums ranged from former Beatle Paul McCartney and soul queen Aretha Franklin to country star Willie Nelson and U2's Bono.
How old was Tony Bennett?
Tony Benett was 96 years old, just two weeks short of his birthday when he breathed his last at his home in New York City of age-related causes, his publicist Sylvia Weiner said in a statement. The iconic crooner was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease back in 2016 but it came to light only in 2021.
Even after suffering from the brain disorder, Bennett continued to perform for his fans as late as 2019. He often said his lifelong ambition was to create “a hit catalog rather than hit records.” He released more than 70 albums in his eight-decade-long musical journey and also published a memoir in 2016 titled "Just Getting Started."
Bennett marked his 90th birthday in 2016 with a party in New York that drew celebrities such as Bruce Willis and John Travolta. The Empire State Building put on a light show in his honor.
Bennett loved performing for his audience
“I enjoy entertaining the audience, making them forget their problems,” he told The Associated Press in 2006. “I think people ... are touched if they hear something that’s sincere and honest and maybe has a little sense of humor. ... I just like to make people feel good when I perform.” Often praised by his peers for his dedication to work, Bennett's friend and mentor, Sinatra said in a 1965 Life magazine interview, "For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more.”
The pop and rock icon thrived under pressure as the music industry underwent significant changes over the years especially with the introduction of rock music and other talented singers. Bennett was so good at his job that he gained new fans and collaborators, some young enough to be his grandchildren. In 2014, at age 88, Bennett broke his own record as the oldest living performer with a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart for “Cheek to Cheek,” his duets project with Lady Gaga. He topped the charts with “Duets II" three years later, featuring such contemporary stars as Gaga, Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse, in her last studio recording.
