NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tony Bennett, the master pop vocalist has died at the age of 96. The legend who once ruled America's traditional pop music industry died battling Alzheimer's disease for seven years. Bennett was being given care by his third wife, Susan Benedetto.
His publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed the news of his death on Friday morning, July 21, and was just two weeks shy of his 97th birthday, according to New York Post. However, an official cause of death has not been revealed. The singer's official Instagram page also announced his death on Friday. "Tony left us today but he was still singing the other day at his piano and his last song was, “Because of You,” his first #1 hit. Tony, because of you we have your songs in our hearts forever," read the post.
Who were Tony Bennett's wives?
The Grammy-winning crooner whose birth name was Anthony Dominick Benedetto was married thrice and is survived by four children from two of the marriages.
Patricia Beech
Bennett who began singing at a young age was married to a jazz fan named Patricia Beech. He met the Ohio art student in 1951 after a nightclub performance in Cleveland. The couple who got married on February 12, 1952, had two sons D'Andrea and Daegal. On grounds of adultery, Beech sued Bennett for divorce and they separated in 1965. Six years later, the divorce became official.
Sandra Grant
In 1965, Bennett began dating the then-aspiring actress Sandra Grant. The couple who became involved while filming 'The Oscar' lived together for many years. The pair who married on December 29, 1971, in New York had two daughters, Joanna and Antonio. Bennett and Grant then separated in 1983.
Susan Benedetto
Bennett entered a 20-year-long romance with a former New York City schoolteacher named Susan Benedetto in the late 1980s. The singer married Benedetto with whom he had an age gap of 40 years on June 21, 2007, in a private civil ceremony. Before their marriage, the duo founded a charitable organization 'Exploring the Arts' which is dedicated to supporting arts education. They also founded a public high school in Queens which was named after Bennett's friend and music legend Frank Sinatra. The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is dedicated to teaching the performing arts.
Bennett was seen smiling with Benedetto in photo posted a month before death
In his final photo posted a month before his death, Bennett was seen grinning with Benedetto as the singer raised awareness of Alzheimer's disease. "June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. #GoPurple with Susan and I, and @alzassociation in honor of the more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s. #ENDALZ," read the caption of the picture where the couple held a sign that read '#ENDALZ'.
