Tony Bennett, American Jazz and Romantic Music Icon, Dies at 96
Tony Bennett is one of the greatest icons of American music. His glittering career has been marked by memorable collaborations with a variety of renowned and contemporary artists.
Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016 - Photo Reproduction/Getty Images
Died, aged 96, the cantor americano Tony Bennett. The iconic artist is known for his contributions to romantic music and jazz. The sad news was released by his representative, Sylvia Weiner, this Friday (21), in a statement to the Associated Press and was later shared through a statement published on his official Twitter account.
"Tony left us today, but just the other day he was singing on his piano, and his last song was 'Because of you', his first hit. Tony, because of you we will have your songs in our hearts forever", says the published note.
Still, according to the representative of the artist, he passed away in the city where he was born, New York. Although the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, it is important to mention that Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
Tony Bennett
Born August 3, 1926, Anthony Dominick Benedett is known for his captivating interpretations of traditional american romantic music songs, such as "The Way You Look Tonight", "Body and Soul", and "(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco". His brilliant artistic career has been marked by memorable collaborations with renowned artists, from Lady Gaga to Aretha Franklin It is Frank Sinatra, the latter hailing him as "the best singer in the business".
Throughout his artistic career, the singer released over 70 albums and won 22 Grammy Awards, including a special Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as two Emmy statuettes. His talent and dedication to music have made him an appreciated icon on the international music scene. Benedett's last public appearance took place in August 2021, during an exciting live performance at Radio City Music Hall, in New York, at the event entitled "One Last Time", alongside none other than Lady Gaga. A few days later, Bennett's son announced to the public that he could not perform any more concerts due to a medical prescription.
Career
The singer began his career in the early 1950s, demonstrating extraordinary talent with a strong voice full of personality. As an old-fashioned singer, he performed such hallmark songs as "Because of You", "Rags to Riches" and "The Good Life". The track "Because of You" remained at the top of Billboard magazine's Hottest Songs list for 10 consecutive weeks.
Throughout his career, the singer has also participated in duets with classical legends and contemporary artists. In March 2011, he had the opportunity to record the single "Body and Soul" at the famous Abbey Road studios in London, in collaboration with the talented Amy Winehouse. This partnership was included in the album "Duets 2". It is important to highlight that he was the last artist to work with Amy before her premature death at the age of 27, leaving an unforgettable musical legacy.
With this record of partnerships, Tony Bennett reached the top of the list of the best selling albums of "Billboard" for the first time. The album sold an impressive 179,000 copies in its first week, according to the publication. The singer had already recorded two albums with Lady Gaga: “Cheek to Cheek” in 2014 and “Love for Sale” in 2021.
With "Cheek to Cheek", Bennett surpassed his own record by becoming the oldest artist to have an album at the top of the Billboard 200 . In 2021, Lady Gaga told about the partnership with Bennett and revealed that she had received a second invitation from the singer to work together again.
Bennett has also partnered with a number of highly regarded artists such as Diana Krall, Michael Bublé, Carrie Underwood and Beyoncé. In 2012, he shined with the release of "Viva Duets", a bilingual album that featured talented Latin American artists, including Gloria Estefan, Thalía, Maria Gadú and Ana Carolina, among others.
