Remembering Tony Bennett
• UPDATED: The legendary Tony Bennett, whose melodic clarity, jazz-influenced phrasing, audience-embracing persona and warm, deceptively simple interpretations of musical standards helped spread the American songbook around the world for more than 70 years, earning him generations of fans — and 20 Grammy Awards — died Friday, July 21 at his home in Manhattan. He was 96. His publicist, Sylvia Weiner, announced his death.
As the New York Times reports, Bennett learned he had Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 and publicly revealed his diagnosis in February 2021, but continued to perform and record despite his illness. His last public performance was in August 2021, when he appeared with his friend and collaborator Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall in a show titled “One Last Time.” Bennett and Gaga had recorded albums in 2014 and 2021 and toured in 2015.
Bennett reached the height of stardom in 1962 with a celebrated concert at Carnegie Hall and the release of what became his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” leading many fans to think he was a native of that city, but he was a lifelong New Yorker, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on Aug. 3, 1926, in Queens, NY.
To give some idea of the length of Bennett’s career, the Times notes that Bennett sang on The Ed Sullivan Show and on Late Show With David Letterman. He sang with Rosemary Clooney when she was in her ’20s, and Celine Dion when she was in her ’20s.
“For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business,” Frank Sinatra told Life magazine in 1965. “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.” In his 1998 autobiography, The Good Life, Bennett said, “I wanted to sing the great songs, songs that I felt really mattered to people.”
In a statement, Joanne Pike, DrPH, President & CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, said, “The Alzheimer’s Association joins the world in mourning the loss of Tony Bennett, a great friend and champion of the cause. For decades, Tony inspired the world with his music and, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he continued to use that powerful voice to make a very real difference in inspiring action and change. For the Bennett family, and the millions of others impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia, we will continue our work of increasing awareness and education, providing families support, and advancing research and treatments, to slow, stop and ultimately, cure Alzheimer’s disease.”
Bennett is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his son and manager Danny, son Dae, daughters Johanna and Antonia Bennett; and 9 grandchildren. For more details about Tony Bennett’s remarkable life and career, please read Bruce Weber‘s comprehensive New York Times‘ coverage. [Photo from People]
• Please feel free to use the Benztown Audio Tribute to Tony Bennett, written and produced by Thomas Green and voiced by MJ Bloch.
