LEGENDARY musician Tony Bennett has died at the age of 96.
Tributes to the legendary singer are pouring in on social media after it was announced on Friday that the star died following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Bennett is survived by his wife, Susan Crow, and his four children from previous marriages. Susan was by his side when he took his final breaths, The U.S. Sun has revealed.
In a statement, Tony's representatives revealed that he was still singing in the lead-up to his death.
"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," they wrote on Instagram.
Read our Tony Bennett death blog for the latest updates…
- By Joseph Gamp
Tony once called Frank Sinatra his 'best friend' – despite not meeting him very often
Tony Bennett called Frank Sinatra his best friend, role model and hero, even though they did not meet that often.
Both grew up in Italian families in the shadow of the Manhattan they later conquered – Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey, Bennett in the New York City borough of Queens.
Both rose to fame singing what Bennett called "The Great American Songbook" of popular song.
- By Joseph Gamp
Tony once called Frank Sinatra his 'best friend' – despite not meeting him very often
Tony Bennett called Frank Sinatra his best friend, role model and hero, even though they did not meet that often.
Both grew up in Italian families in the shadow of the Manhattan they later conquered – Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey, Bennett in the New York City borough of Queens.
Both rose to fame singing what Bennett called "The Great American Songbook" of popular song.
- By Shanine Bruder
Legendary music icon dies just weeks before 97th birthday
Legendary music icon Tony Bennett has died at age 96.
A cause of death has not been determined.
Bennett was two weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
- By Joseph Gamp
Who collaborated with Tony Bennett over the years?
Tony performed and recorded with some of music's most famous names in a glittering career that spanned over SEVEN decades.
Paul McCartney, John Legend, Christina Aguilera and Michael Bublé are just some of the megastars to have collaborated with the 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco star'.
His 2011 duet with Amy Winehouse, Body And Soul, was the last song the British pop sensation recorded before her death.
- By Joseph Gamp
Who collaborated with Tony Bennett over the years?
Tony performed and recorded with some of music's most famous names in a glittering career that spanned over SEVEN decades.
Paul McCartney, John Legend, Christina Aguilera and Michael Bublé are just some of the megastars to have collaborated with the 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco star'.
His 2011 duet with Amy Winehouse, Body And Soul, was the last song the British pop sensation recorded before her death.
- By Shanine Bruder
Tony Bennett considered one of the greatest performers of the 20th century
The legendary singer, who served during the final stages of World War II, was considered one of the greatest performers of the 20th century.
He began his career as a crooner of commercial pop tunes and eventually signed with Columbia Records.
- By Joseph Gamp
Tony Bennett's prolific career saw him release over 70 albums
Tony released more than 70 albums over the course of his career.
The world-famous crooners also won a number of awards, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
He retired after cancelling his shows in 2021, after a run of gigs with Lady Gaga in New York.
- By Shanine Bruder
Tributes pour in
Following the news of Tony Bennett's passing, fans have rushed to social media to pay tribute to the legendary music icon.
Taking to Twitter, one wrote: ''RIP Tony Bennett. An icon in every sense of the word.''
A second said: ''RIP Tony Bennett thank you for all the music.''
Credit: Getty - By Joseph Gamp
Tony's cause of death is yet to be confirmed
Tony Bennett – who collaborated with Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga in the last chapter of his astonishing career – had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
However, his cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
- By Joseph Gamp
Tony's cause of death is yet to be confirmed
Tony Bennett – who collaborated with Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga in the last chapter of his astonishing career – had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
However, his cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
- By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett’s final performance
Earlier in 2021, Tony Bennett announced his retirement from performing and said he would close off his chapter with one last concert.
His final performance, One Last Time, recorded at Radio City Music Hall included Lady Gaga and officially aired on November 28th, 2021 on CBS and Paramount+.Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared August 3 Tony Bennett Day in honor of his final performances at Radio City Music Hall.
- By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett performed with Lady Gaga before retiring
On Tony Bennett's birthday in 2021, he and Lady Gaga performed together at Radio City Music Hall before Bennett retired on August 12.
The performance came after Bennett revealed his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Lady Gaga was interviewed by Anderson Cooper for the 60 Minutes feature of Bennett, and she revealed she didn't think he really knew who she was as they were preparing for their final show together.
She also shared that once there is music playing, Bennett seemed to know what to do and remembered how to perform.
- By Shanine Bruder
A look at Bennett's first smash hit
Tony Bennett's first smash hit came in 1951 with Because of You, which gained popularity on jukeboxes, then reached number one on the pop charts, selling over a million copies.
His career continued to skyrocket during the '50s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Wings, Bennett Sings.
- By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett on his Alzheimer’s diagnosis
In February 2021, Tony Bennett announced he had been battling Alzheimer’s disease since 2016.
The singer paid tribute to his wife, Susan Crow as he announced his diagnosis.
"Life is a gift – even with Alzheimer’s," Bennett tweeted on February 1.
"Thank you to Susan and my family for their support, and @AARP The Magazine for telling my story."
- By Mollie Mansfield
More on Tony Bennett’s wife, Susan Crow
Susan Crow is a philanthropist who has been married to Tony Bennett since 2007.
At 56, Crow is 40 years younger than her husband.
They reportedly met at one of Bennett's concerts when she was in her 20s and he was in his early 60s, according to Just Jared.
They dated for two decades before tying the knot.
- By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett Day declared by former governor
On Tony Bennett's 95th birthday, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaimed the day in the singer's honor.
"Music and the arts have long been an essential piece of the fabric of New York, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has made more of a contribution in this space than Tony Bennett," Cuomo said.
"Not only is Tony a born and bred New Yorker who has been dazzling audiences with beautiful music for more than six decades, but he has always stayed true to his humble New York roots and can always be spotted throughout the City whether he is working on his next painting in Central Park, or just chatting with fans on the street."
"From growing up as a child of immigrants, to all the contributions he has made to our community, Tony Bennett is a New Yorker in the truest sense of the word and I am honored to proclaim August 3, 2021 as 'Tony Bennett Day' in New York.'”
Credit: Splash - By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett Day declared by former governor
On Tony Bennett's 95th birthday, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaimed the day in the singer's honor.
"Music and the arts have long been an essential piece of the fabric of New York, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has made more of a contribution in this space than Tony Bennett," Cuomo said.
"Not only is Tony a born and bred New Yorker who has been dazzling audiences with beautiful music for more than six decades, but he has always stayed true to his humble New York roots and can always be spotted throughout the City whether he is working on his next painting in Central Park, or just chatting with fans on the street."
"From growing up as a child of immigrants, to all the contributions he has made to our community, Tony Bennett is a New Yorker in the truest sense of the word and I am honored to proclaim August 3, 2021 as 'Tony Bennett Day' in New York.'”
- By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett’s wife opened up about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis
In October of 2021, Anderson Cooper, the host of 60 Minutes, spoke with Bennett's wife, Susan Crow, about the star's battle with Alzheimer's.
"He recognizes me, thank goodness, his children you know, we are blessed in a lotta ways. He's very sweet. He doesn't know he has it," said Susan.
Cooper confirmed with Susan at the time that Bennett was unaware of his diagnosis.
- By Mollie Mansfield
Tony Bennett dead at 96
Iconic singer Tony Bennett has died at the age of 96, his family has confirmed.
The legend is well known for hit songs including Because of You and Rags to Riches.
He spent his early years growing up in Astoria, Queens.
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