Tony Bennett, a Renowned New York Crooner, Passes Away At Age 96.

According to his agents, Tony Bennett was “singing at his piano” just days before he passed away.

The renowned jazz and pop singer from New York passed away on Friday at age 96.

Tony passed away today, although he was still performing at his piano the other day, and his final song was Because of You, his first #1 hit, according to a message on his Twitter account.

Tony, we will always have your songs in our hearts as a result of you.

On social media, Sir Elton John, Carole King, and Hilary Clinton were among those paying respects to the celebrity.

The Way You Look Tonight, Body and Soul, and (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco are just a few of Bennett’s well-known songs.

Additionally, he worked with well-known musicians such as Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra, who referred to him as “the best singer in the business”.

Bennett sold millions of songs over the course of a career spanning eight decades and collected 20 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award.

His spokeswoman Sylvia Weiner informed the Associated Press in a statement that Bennett had passed away.

She claimed that he passed away in his native New York. Although no specific reason of demise was given, Bennett had been identified as having Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.

The first to pay respect on social media was Sir Elton John, who wrote that he was “so sad to hear of Tony’s passing” in a message posted on his Instagram.

The classiest performer, man, and singer you will ever witness, according to Sir Elton, Sir Elton stated. “He cannot be replaced. I adored and cherished him. Warmest sympathies to Susan, Danny, and the family.

Tony Bennett made enduring contributions to American culture, according to a statement from the White House that read, “Tony Bennett didn’t just sing the classics; he himself was an American classic.”
Bennett was referred to as a “true talent, a true gentleman, and a true friend” by former US first lady Hillary Clinton. She wrote on Twitter, “We’ll miss you, Tony, and thanks for all the memories.”

Carole King, a singer, said: “RIP Tony Bennett. A terrible loss. Sincere condolences to his family and everyone else.

Singer Billy Joel claimed in a statement to Rolling Stone that Tony Bennett was one of the most significant interpreters of American popular music in the middle to late 20th century.

“He spoke up for songwriters who would have otherwise remained obscure to millions of music fans. His distinctive voice helped to bridge the gap between the Jazz and Pop eras.

“His extraordinary contribution to the field of contemporary music is something for which I will always be thankful. I loved working with him. His passion for the content he was performing and his energy were contagious. He was also among the kindest people I’ve ever met.

Martin Scorsese, the director, continued, “Tony Bennett was a complete artist. To understand that, all you have to do is listen to any one of his numerous albums.His music began to subtly weave itself into our lives very early on. His voice seemed as close and comfortable to us as the voices of our loved ones. I am aware that millions of people worldwide experienced this.

Bennett, who was raised in poverty by his Italian immigrant family and was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, lost his father when he was just nine years old.

Before enrolling in the School of Industrial Art in New York to study music and painting, he worked as a singing waiter as a youngster.

In order to fight in France and Germany toward the end of World War Two, he was drafted into the US army in 1944. In a 2013 interview with the Guardian, he described the traumatic event as “legalized murder.”

His singing career continued after he got home, first going by the name Joe Bari. In 1951, the song Because of You gave him his first number one, and that was the song that gave him his breakthrough.

On the recommendation of fellow entertainer Bob Hope, he changed his name to the Americanized Tony Bennett.

When Bennett issued his debut record in 1952, he quickly rose to fame among teenagers. The following year, female fans in grief surrounded his wedding.

Every decade of his life after that saw him reach the US charts, earning him a reputation for his classic swinging jazz-infused pop singles like Blue Velvet and Rags to Riches as well as later show tunes and big band pieces.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco, which he covered in 1962, propelled his star even farther into orbit and earned him two Grammys.

When discussing his love of the thrill of jazz with BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, he said: “Jazz artists live for the moment.”

Bennett participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and opposed performing in South Africa during the apartheid era. He also supported the civil rights struggle.

But as the decade went on, his relevance diminished with the emergence of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the US.

Then came personal issues, such as the dissolution of two marriages and drug addiction.

He recorded two records with pianist Bill Evans while continuing to perform despite his pain.

His circumstances started to turn after appointing his son Danny as his manager and reunited with his pianist and musical director Ralph Sharon.

In the 1980s and 1990s, when the artist, who was then in his sixties, was showered with Grammy awards, he experienced a comeback.

The celebrity who had returned to New York from Las Vegas in 1986 got things going again with the release of his comeback album, The Art of Excellence.

Before 1994’s MTV Unplugged, which saw Bennett win the Grammy for album of the year, he released the chart-topping Perfectly Frank, a tribute to his musical hero Sinatra.

Bennett stated in an interview with the Independent in 2008 that he was not astonished by his resurgent success.

“Good music is good music,” he declared. “I don’t care if someone is young or old if they listen to me. In many ways, I have no interest at all in young people.

“I’m curious about age. When people reach a certain age, they learn how to live correctly, you know? The late Duke Ellington once confided in me that the word “category” truly irritated him.

“There are no categories in music; it is either good or it isn’t. I perform wonderful songs written by the best songwriters. They are made to last by that caliber of quality. You can count on people singing these songs forever.

Bennett never lost his ability to be cool, attracting fresh legions of admirers.