Legendary singer, Tony Bennett has passed away this Friday morning at the age of 96.
The specific cause of death has not yet been released, however it has been public knowledge since 2021 that Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. After his diagnosis, Bennett remained positive, continued performing, and kept the diagnosis private between himself and his family. The Bennetts only shared the news of his disease with the general public a few years ago in 2021.
After an eight decade long career, Bennett has accomplished more than most, from awards to tours to signature songs to cartoon cameos. Throughout his career he performed in front of other iconic singers, like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope, and even recorded albums with Lady Gaga.
Bennett began his career by being a singing waiter in New York City at 15 years old and fell in love with performing. In 1998 he told Larry King: “I just decided that . . . I would love to become successful, and if I didn’t, I’m going to do this the rest of my life. I loved it.” Bennett was not only famous for his career in music, but also famous for his love of his career. He frequently told people that he had never worked a day in his life because of how much he loved performing.
Tony Bennett is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his 4 children, Danny, Dae, Johanna, and Antonia Bennett, as well as 9 grandchildren. Today, we remember a great performer, father, husband, and icon; the legend of Tony Bennett will live on.