Tony Bennett, a legendary figure in the world of music, passed away on Friday at the age of 96.
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Bennett’s spokeswoman Sylvia Weiner confirmed the news that he had passed away. The iconic singer passed away in the city that he called home, New York City, just two weeks before he would have been 97 years old. Although the particular reason of Bennett’s passing has not been disclosed, the fact that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 and had revealed this information to the public in 2021 precedes his passing.
An endearing story of Bennett’s time spent with his family in his last days at home was told in a post that was published on his official Instagram account.
“Tony left us today, but he was still singing the other day at his piano and his last song was, ‘Because of You,’ his first #1 hit,” the caption says, accompanying a gorgeous black-and-white portrait of the musician when he was younger in his younger years. “Tony, because of you, we will always carry the music you’ve written in our hearts.”
After learning of his passing, Bennett’s celebrity friends and admirers went to various forms of social media to express their condolences and affection for the legendary singer.
Martin Scorsese, who directed the film, said in a statement that “Tony Bennett was a complete artist.” ET was given this comment. Listening to just one of his hundreds of recordings is all that is required to establish this beyond a reasonable doubt. At a very early stage, his music began stealthily ingraining itself into the fabric of our existence. His voice was instantly recognizable, and it made us feel as if he were right there with us. I am aware that this was the case for tens of millions of individuals all around the globe.
“That familiarity ran even deeper for Italian-Americans who were growing up in the middle of the twentieth century,” added Scorsese after the previous statement. “At a certain point, we began to see a future in which Tony would live on in perpetuity. He didn’t do it, of course. Nobody does. But what about the music? That’s a whole other tale.”
On Instagram, Elton John memorialized the late singer Tony Bennett by posting a picture of the two of them together and wrote, “So sorry to hear of Tony’s loss. He is without a doubt the most refined performer, vocalist, and guy you will ever come across. He can never be replaced. I had an undying affection for him. My deepest condolences go out to Susan, Danny, and the rest of the family.
Gloria Estefan also uploaded a picture of herself smiling with Bennett and said that she had been a fan of the crooner “since I was a child.” The picture was posted on her Instagram account.
Estefan wrote the following in Spanish and then translated it into English: “With his velvet voice he made me long for San Francisco when I couldn’t even find it on a map and, throughout his lifetime, he has beautified our world with his songs and paintings,” Estefan said in both languages. “I can’t think of any singer whose voice was more eternally youthful, clean, graceful, and contemporary for as long as his has been than his. I shall be thankful till the end of time that I was able to orbit around him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family, who have shown him love and care throughout his life, as well as his many followers all across the globe, who will carry on his legacy by keeping his memory alive.
Christina Aguilera expressed her sorrow at Tony Bennett’s passing by posting photos and videos of the two of them together on social media.
“Saddened by the loss of a true music icon, Tony Bennett,” she captioned her photo on social media. “Tony’s significant contributions to the field will always and indefinitely reverberate with all of us. Holding dear the recollections of our time spent working together personally. The sound of his voice, the ability he had, and the love he had for music will never be forgotten.
Charles Fox, who has won several awards for his compositions, said the following in an interview with Entertainment Tonight (ET): “I saw Tony Bennett perform a number of times over the years and met him when he performed at the Oscars dinner several years ago.” He was a one-of-a-kind performer when it came to interpreting tunes. His infectious enthusiasm for singing, as well as the unique touches and musical prowess he brought to famous tunes, will remain in my memory forever. We will, thankfully, be able to preserve his legacy in recordings for all time.”
Rich Little, a comedian, was asked about his feelings on Bennett’s influence on the music business, and he responded by stating, “I am devastated that we lost an icon in the music industry.” It wasn’t only me who liked him. He was the most gifted vocalist that Frank Sinatra had ever come across, according to Sinatra. I didn’t know anybody else who knew the words to as many songs as Tony did. Whenever we were together, we could request songs, and Tony would start singing the first few bars of each one. Tony and Lady Gaga were both in attendance for the concert that I saw in Vegas. Tony was still performing at a very high level. Everyone in the audience got to their feet. He was a vocalist whose career spanned many decades and who remained popular with people of all ages.
Roslyn Kind, who shared the stage with Bennett when playing in Las Vegas, told Entertainment Tonight (ET), “I met Tony in 1974 when we were both performing at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.” He joined me for my three o’clock in the morning broadcast with Larry Storch. At a play that started at three in the morning, there were just a few people in the audience, but he couldn’t believe how I gave it my all as if the room was full of people. During our conversation after the concert, he offered me the most sincere praise. I never forgot it. It’s impossible to overstate how polite he was. What a beautiful human being.
In addition, President Clinton and Secretary Clinton issued a long statement paying honor to Bennett, who was a performer at the event commemorating the president’s inauguration in 1993:
Tony Bennett was someone we cherished and looked up to, and we were in awe of the depth of his devotion to making the world a better place as well as the range of his skill.
throughout the course of more than 60 years, he shared with his loving followers all throughout the globe his passion for the American songbook. Tony was a serious painter whose works proudly hang in our home. He was also a great citizen who marched over the Pettus Bridge all the way to Montgomery in 1965. Finally, Tony was a dedicated philanthropist who, along with his beloved Susan, founded the Exploring the Arts program for New York City schools and the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens. Both of these institutions are named after Frank Sinatra.
Tony will always have our utmost personal gratitude for his performance at the Presidential Inauguration in 1993 and for the many times he has donated his skills to the Clinton Foundation in support of its mission. He had a one-of-a-kind voice, and he was known for his kind nature. He led a spectacular life with perfect pitch. We are keeping Susan, along with Danny, Dae, Joanna, and Antonia, and the rest of his family in our thoughts and prayers.
Additionally, a statement was issued by the Alzheimer’s Association in response to Bennett’s demise and his fight against the illness.
The tragic loss of great vocalist Tony Bennett has left the Alzheimer’s Association in a state of profound mourning. Bennett was an outstanding ambassador for the cause when he received his diagnosis. He shared his experience with the public to contribute to the reduction of stigma and the elevation of the dialogue on behalf of the millions of families who are coping with the condition.
In February of 2021, Bennett and his family courageously disclosed that Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Six months later, he performed his farewell show at Radio City Music Hall with his close friend and frequent collaborator Lady Gaga. After that, the two individuals made a recording of a public service announcement in order to assist in the process of educating and informing others about the sickness. Over the course of the following several years, Bennett maintained a consistent working relationship with the Alzheimer’s Association in order to generate money for research and promote awareness about the condition.
Tony Bennett was a wonderful friend to those affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and the Alzheimer’s Association mourns his passing together with the rest of the world. Tony continued to utilize his strong voice to make a very real impact in motivating action and change even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, according to Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. For decades, Tony inspired the world with his music, and after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he continued to use that voice. “For the Bennett family, and the millions of others whose lives have been impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia, we will continue our work of increasing awareness and education, providing families with support, and advancing research and treatments to slow down, stop, and ultimately cure Alzheimer’s disease.”
