R.I.P. Tony Bennett: Legendary Crooner Dead at 96

Tony Bennett, the legendary musician who won 19 Grammys throughout his iconic career, died on Friday in his hometown of New York. He was 96.

His publicist, Sylvia Weiner, confirmed the sad news to The Associated Press this morning. While his cause of death has not yet been confirmed, Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. Despite this, he continued to perform and record albums through 2021.

Bennett, who won 19 Grammys, a Lifetime Achievement Award, was a Kennedy Center Honoree and released more than 60 albums over the course of his career, was hailed by industry peer and friend Frank Sinatra as “the best singer in the business.”

Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, he came into the world on Aug. 3, 1926. The crooner went on to sign with Columbia Records in 1950, before releasing his first major hit — “Because of You” — the following year. He ultimately became one of the top pop artists of the 1950s and early 1960s.

While his career fizzled out throughout the 1970s, his fame found a resurgence under the management of his son, Danny, in the 1990s when he was exposed to a younger audience via Late Night appearances. In 2011, the star famously dueted “Body and Soul” with the late Amy Winehouse, who considered him one of her “idols.” In a later interview, Bennett revealed he was “surprised” that she was such a big fan since she was “so young.”

Over the last decade, Bennett also became a frequent collaborator with Lady Gaga. In 2014, they released their chart-topping album “Cheek to Cheek” — which won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album. It made him the oldest living performer to have a No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart at age 88.

In 2021, they were nominated for another six Grammys for their follow-up album, “Love For Sale.” Gaga has since called Bennett “one of my most favorite people on the whole planet.”

The singer’s last public appearance was with Gaga when they reunited for a concert at Radio City Music Hall in 2021. A viral moment happened onstage as Bennett, who was battling Alzheimer’s at the time, remembered his friend when she came out to sing with him.

“That’s the first time that Tony said my name in a long time,” Gaga said on 60 Minutes, per People. “I had to keep it together because we had a sold-out show and I have a job to do. But I’ll tell you when I walked out on that stage and he said, ‘It’s Lady Gaga,’ my friend saw me. It was very special.”

Bennett is survived by his wife Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett and nine grandchildren.