NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tony Bennett lived on to create a massive musical legacy with a career spanning over eight decades. The pop singer, who is equally celebrated for his Jazz music, was referred to as the ‘world’s best vocalist’ by his buddy Frank Sinatra. The artist collaborated with the likes of Lady Gaga to Aretha Franklin, and of course with the ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ crooner. Bennett died after his long battle with Alzheimer’s disease at his residence in New York City, the news confirmed by his publicist Sylvia Weiner.
Many famous personalities reacted to his death at 96, former US first lady Hillary Clinton said in a tweet, “True talent, a true gentleman, and a true friend. We'll miss you, Tony, and thanks for all the memories." Carole King also paid tribute to the ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ crooner, "RIP Tony Bennett. Such a big loss. Deepest sympathy to his family and the world."
What was Tony Bennett's net worth?
Tony Bennett, a New York City native started his musical career early. After being quickly recognized for his superb singing abilities, he was soon invited to perform on international stages. Bennett lived in a luxurious apartment in New York City with his third wife Susan Crow. As per media outlets, Bennett’s net worth reached $200 million in 2023. In his career, he bagged 20 Grammy Awards in his career, including Lifetime Achievement Award.
The ‘Very Thought of You’ crooner began his career in the early 1950s after serving during World War II. Some of his most popular songs of that time include, ‘Because of You,’ ‘Rags to Riches,’ and ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’ Bennett also teamed up with hit musicians like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Bill Evans, according to BBC News.
'This is who I am'
Born as Anthony Dominick Benedetto, he was raised in Queens, New York. His mother Anna was a seamstress, and his father John Benedetto, was a grocer, who struggled to provide for their family. It was the time of the Great Depression, and Tony Bennett lost his dad when he was just 10. “I come from a wonderful Italian-American family. My father died when I was 10 and my family would make a circle around us to help my mom out," he told Parade. "She had to raise two sons and a daughter and work during the Depression. She had to work so hard and all of my relatives helped us out. Every Sunday, my family would come over and we would entertain them. They would encourage us and they would say, ‘Look at how Tony is singing’ and ‘Look at how he paints,’ and it really created a passion in me for the rest of my life. I remember very clearly as a young boy saying, ‘This is who I am. My family is telling me that I sing well and I paint well, so I’m going to keep doing that.’ To this day, I still have a strong desire to get better and better as I get older.”
As a teenager, he idolized artists such as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Judy Garland.
