Tony Bennett, iconic American musician whose career lasted for decades, died on Friday at age 96. The singer died in his hometown, New York, and is survived by his wife, four children, and nine grandchildren.
The Associated Press reported that there was no specific cause of his death. However, in 2021, his family confirmed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
Though the star's wife told People he was "not always sure where he [was] or what [was] happening around him," his neurologist noted that music really helped Bennett while he was living with the disease.
"It kept him on his toes and also stimulated his brain in a significant way," the neurologist, Gayatri Devi, said. "He really is the symbol of hope for someone with a cognitive disorder."
The beloved artist had been active as a recording artist since 1949, and his career lasted for eight decades. He was awarded 19 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Emmy Awards. He released more than 70 albums during his career, and was best known for his 1962 hit, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
“I enjoy entertaining the audience, making them forget their problems,” he told AP in 2006. “I think people … are touched if they hear something that’s sincere and honest and maybe has a little sense of humor. … I just like to make people feel good when I perform.”
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He was also popular among other artists, including Lady Gaga and Frank Sinatra. In 1965, Frank Sinatra called Tony Bennett "the best singer in the business."
"He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more," Sinatra said at the time.
Even at age 88, the star had a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Cheek to Cheek was released in collaboration with Lady Gaga in 2014, making Bennett the oldest living artist with a No. 1 album, according to AP.
