NEW YORK. Tony Bennett, the masterful stylist of American musical standards, passed away at the age of 96, just two weeks shy of his birthday.
The legendary singer, known for his devotion to classic American songs and his ability to create new standards like “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” enjoyed a career spanning decades, garnering admiration from fellow artists like Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga.
His publicist, Sylvia Weiner, confirmed the news of his death to The Associated Press, stating that he died in his hometown of New York. While no specific cause was mentioned, it was known that Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
Bennett was regarded as one of the last great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, and he often expressed that his ambition was to create a hit catalog rather than just hit records. Throughout his career, he released more than 70 albums, earning him 19 competitive Grammy Awards, most of which were achieved after he turned 60. His exceptional voice and interpretation of songs endeared him to fans and peers alike.
Unlike his friend and mentor, Frank Sinatra, Bennett chose to interpret songs rather than embody them. His music selections ranged from the Gershwins and Cole Porter to Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern, and he had a unique ability to caress a ballad or brighten up-tempo numbers.
Bennett’s ability to endure and reinvent himself allowed him to gain new fans and collaborate with younger artists, some young enough to be his grandchildren. Notably, his duets project with Lady Gaga, “Cheek to Cheek,” achieved No. 1 status on the Billboard 200 chart in 2014 when Bennett was 88 years old. This success was followed by another chart-topping album, “Duets II,” featuring contemporary stars like Gaga, Carrie Underwood, and Amy Winehouse.
Throughout his career, Bennett tirelessly championed the Great American Songbook, believing that the songs of composers like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Jerome Kern would never fade away.
One of Bennett’s most famous contributions came from two unknown songwriters, George Cory and Douglass Cross, who provided him with his signature song, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” during a career lull in the early 1960s. The song became a massive hit, earning Bennett his first two Grammy Awards.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, Bennett actively supported the Civil Rights Movement, and he joined Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march and performed for the protesters.
Bennett’s life and career were filled with challenges and triumphs, but his passion for music and art remained unwavering. Survived by his wife Susan, daughters Johanna and Antonia, sons Danny and Dae, and nine grandchildren, Tony Bennett leaves behind a legacy of timeless music and artistic brilliance.
