Tony Bennett

Bennett in 2008

Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023) was an American singer who was best known for his song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". During his career, he won 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Career

Bennett started singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II. He had his first number-one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several popular tracks such as "Rags to Riches" followed in early 1953. In 1962, Bennett recorded his best known single, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". He sang several duets and organized concerts with many well known American and foreign singers, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Vicente Fernández and others.^[1]

Later in his career, he became known for his collaboration with Lady Gaga, which began with the album Cheek to Cheek (2014). They released another album together Love for Sale (2021). For this album, Bennett broke the individual record for the longest run of a top-10 album on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist. Bennett also broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days.^[2]^[3]

Bennet's final live performances were on August 3 and 5, 2021, when he presented a pair of shows with Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall.^[4]

Personal life

Bennett was born at St John’s Hospital in Queens, New York.^[5]

He was married three times and had four children. Bennett was a Democrat and attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention in support of President Obama's re-election.^[6]

In February 2021, Bennett said that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.^[7] He died from the disease on July 21, 2023 in New York City, aged 96.^[8]^[9]

Tony Bennett Media

Bennett (right) with Chicago columnist and talk show host Irv Kupcinet, during the 1950s
Bennett (right) with composer Harold Arlen, rehearsing for the television program The Twentieth Century in 1964
Bennett performing in 1966
Bennett in Baltimore, 1995
Greeting Stevie Wonder at the White House on February 25, 2009
Singer Tony Bennett with actor and singer Bill A. Jones
Performing with Lady Gaga on their co-headlining Cheek to Cheek Tour (2015). Their second collaborative album, Love for Sale (2021), was his final record.
The Tony Bennett concert show as seen by the audience, with no stage set, visual effects or advanced lighting schemes. Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, September 2005.
Bennett's work for the Civil Rights Movement, including his participation in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, later earned him induction into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta.