Music legendTony Bennetthas died. He was 96.
The icon’s family confirmed in January 2021 that Bennett had been quietly living with Alzheimer’s disease since 2016. The revelation came as part of a profile on his life forAARP The Magazine.When news broke of his health, Bennett was still capable of recognizing his friends and family.
Bennett’s wife, who became his primary caregiver, told the magazine that he was “not always sure where he is or what is happening around him” and that “mundane objects as familiar as a fork or a set of house keys can be utterly mysterious to him.”
Tony Bennett and his wife, actress Sandra Grant Bennett.Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty
His neurologist, Gayatri Devi, said that keeping up with his music has been incredibly beneficial for the Grammy Award winner.
“It kept him on his toes and also stimulated his brain in a significant way,” Devi explained, later adding, “He is doing so many things, at 94, that many people without dementia cannot do. He really is the symbol of hope for someone with a cognitive disorder.”
According to Benedetto, the singer was always in good spirits, even during his journey with Alzheimers. “But that’s because he already didn’t understand,” she toldAARP.“He would ask me, ‘What is Alzheimer’s?’ I would explain, but he wouldn’t get it.”
“He’d tell me, ‘Susan, I feel fine.’ That’s all he could process — that physically he felt great,” Benedetto said. “So, nothing changed in his life. Anything that did change, he wasn’t aware of.”
Tony Bennett performing at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Hot Pink Party: The Pink Standard at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on April 30, 2015 in New York.Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Bennett was a master jazz vocalist whose unique style and devotion to the classic American songbook carried him through eight decades of fame.
He released his debut single “Because of You” in 1951 and dropped one of his most popular hits, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” in 1962. Over the course of his iconic career, Bennett amassed 20 Grammy awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 — he gained recognition in the Grammy Hall of Fame for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1994.
Additionally, the late star won two Emmy awards. In 2017, Bennett was honored with The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, making him the first “interpretive singer” to win the honor.
Tony Bennett.Noam Galai/Getty
Among his countless accolades, the “My Favorite Things” singer also won the GLAAD Media Award for outstanding music album in 2003.
PEOPLE caught up with the starin celebration of his 90th birthday in 2016. “I’m still wide awake!” the iconic artist said at the time. “My doctor likes to kick me out of his office and say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you — don’t bother me!’ I’m very fortunate.”
“I had a wonderful time growing up in Queens and dreaming about coming to the big city to make it,” Bennett told PEOPLE. “It all happened [in 1962] with my song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.'”
Even in his late 80s, Bennett never gave up his dream. He won the Grammy award for best traditional pop vocal album two consecutive years in a row in 2015 and 2016. His second collection ofDuetsdebuted at the top of the charts in September 2011, making Bennett the oldest performer in history to release a No. 1 album.
“I think being my age, staying in top shape is a first. Usually people are still respected if they show up at 90, but they say, ‘He’s not like he used to be’ and all that. And it’s not happening with me,” Bennett said. “I still have a lot of energy when I hit the stage and I feel blessed about the fact that I’m still going strong. We were always sold out wherever we played throughout my whole career, and it’s a blessing to still have that happen at 90.”
As much as Bennett maintained his young spirit,the star was required to slow down a bit in September 2019when he contracted a virus and was advised to cancel a slew of upcoming performances in order to recover.
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Still, Bennett always kept an active presence amongst his fans across all age groups, even posting on hisTwitter,Facebook,InstagramandMyspaceaccounts.
“Dear Lady – I always knew you could do anything at the highest level of artistry,” Bennet shared on Twittercelebrating Lady Gagafor her 2019 Oscar nods. He was 92 at the time. “Congratulations on your Oscar nominations! Love, Tony.”
Lady Gagaisn’t the only pop star Bennett worked with. He also collaborated with many other artists includingthe late Amy Winehouse,Diana Krall,Michael Bublé,Carrie Underwoodand more. In 2016,the star even teased a collaborationwith Beyoncé.
“Beyoncé— she’s thinking of something to do with me,” he previously told PEOPLE. “We met at a benefit, and she said, ‘I’ve got an idea that we should do something together.’ She didn’t tell me what it was yet, so we’ll see what happens!”
source: people.com
