Tony Bennett, the legendary singer and songwriter, has died at 96.
The news was shared Friday by Tony's publicist, Sylvia Weiner. No cause of death was given.
Tony had been living with Alzheimer's disease since 2016, but as the New York Times notes, he continued to perform until his retirement in 2021. After turning 90, he told the outlet, “I could have retired 16 years ago, but I just love what I'm doing.”
Once dubbed "the best singer" in the business by Frank Sinatra, Tony released various timeless hits throughout his lifetime, including "Because of You," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," and "New York State of Mind" with Billy Joel. He was a 19-time Grammy Award winner with over 70 albums to his name.
His last shows were a series of public performances with Lady Gaga in August 2021.
Tony is survived by his wife, Susan Crow, and four children: Danny, Daegal, Joanna, and Antonia. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.
