Tony Bennett recently turned 96

Tony Bennett celebrated his 96th birthday on August 3. While he was on stage for his previous birthday alongside Lady Gaga, the famous crooner now prefers to stay away from the spotlight.

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Tony Bennett has Alzheimer’s

In early 2021, crooner Tony Bennett’s family revealed that the artist suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. His disease was detected in 2016, but the singer and his team managed to hide it from the public for five years.

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He discovered his illness while working with Lady Gaga

It was during the recording of his first album with Lady Gaga, released in 2014, that Tony Bennett began to detect the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. He had already had some minor memory problems, but initially hadn’t paid attention to them. After all, he was 90 years old… However, in 2016 the prognosis was confirmed.

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His wife Susan takes care of him

Susan Crow, the singer’s third wife, is keeping a close eye on Tony Bennett. She affirms that it is thanks to the song that her husband was able to slow down the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease.

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He stopped painting

Along with music, Bennett devoted himself to painting. His works are signed under his real name Anthony Benedetto or only Benedetto. In a photo on his Facebook account, we can appreciate the artist in 2020. Before the illness, he drew or painted every day.

(Photo : Tony Bennett, Facebook)

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His career began… 73 years ago!

A jazz icon, Bennett recorded more than 70 albums during his career, which began in 1949. Discs almost all produced by Columbia Records, and sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. And if we take a closer look at the incredible life of the crooner?

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An Italian-American idol

Tony Bennett is one of the last survivors of a tradition of Italian-American singers whose icon was Frank Sinatra. This category of singer is sometimes called “crooner” (from the verb “to croon”, which means “to hum”), and is characterized by a style of singing with a warm and emotional tone that the artist communicates with his timbre of voice.

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Anthony Dominick Benedetto

Coming from a modest Italian-American family, Tony Bennett was born in 1926 in Astoria, Queens. His father, a commercial employee, died when he was ten years old. Her mother works as a seamstress. Anthony Dominick Benedetto, his baptismal name, had a sister and a brother. One of his uncles was a vaudeville tap dancer. All these factors very early on gave the young Tony an opening into the world of show business.

(Photos: Tony Bennett shared photos from his childhood on his Facebook account)

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He comes from a humble background

Bennett then recalled his humble origins. In 2020, he posted this image with the following caption: “When I was young, my mother was devastated because we had no food to celebrate Thanksgiving. So I decided to participate in a lotto at the bottom of the street and to my surprise, I won! And you know what? The prize was a turkey! Unbelievable! My family never forgot that special moment.”

(Photo : Tony Bennett, Facebook)

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Tony Bennett started singing at an early age

As a child, Tony Bennett started singing in restaurants in Queens. His uncle accompanied him. One of his first notable performances was at the inauguration of the Triborough Bridge in 1936, when he sang in front of the mayor. Here is young Anthony in his white suit on this very special day. When he publishes the photo on his Facebook account, the artist adds: “At 10 years old, I already knew that singing was my passion and that I was going to make it my job.”

(Photo : Tony Bennett, Facebook)

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Bob Hope ‘discovered’ Tony Bennett following WWII

Anthony continued his studies at the High School of Industrial Art and served in the army during World War II. On his return, while performing in a venue in New York’s Greenwich Village, artist Bob Hope quickly spotted the talent of the young singer.

(Photo : Tony Bennett, Facebook)

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Television appearances

It was Bob Hope who urged her to change her name and drop her Italian surname. He then calls himself Tony Bennett. Gradually, he rose through the ranks of stardom. This is mainly due to his television appearances.

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The notoriety of Tony Bennett

In the 1950s, Tony Bennett enjoyed enormous success. He was even the star of his own television show on the American network NBC: ‘The Tony Bennett Show’. A real star, he gives three concerts a day (from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.). Apart from his artistic life, he also has a very full life: Tony Bennett has been married three times.

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Fall and resurrection

After enjoying artistic and commercial success in the 1950s and 1960s, his career suffered a long slump during the period of rock success. At the same time, Bennett had serious addiction problems. It was only in the 80s that he experienced an artistic and personal resurrection.

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Tony Bennett hits

Tony Bennett is a performer of popular hits of all genres. Her voice introduced us to songs like “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, “Blue Velvet” and “Chicago”. These are all classics that he sang during his concerts in Las Vegas in the 70s, at a time when his career was not looking good.

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His return to TV

Tony Bennett made a remarkable comeback in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks to his children, Danny (pictured) and Dae, winning over a younger audience while keeping his musical style intact. At the time, both were very effective managers and publicists and managed to bring the artist back into the limelight. For example, he appeared on the famous ‘Muppets’ show and on David Letterman’s talk show.

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Collaborations with pop and modern jazz stars

A younger audience discovers Tony Bennett. New jazz and pop celebrities turn to him for various collaborations. Throughout the 1990s, Tony Bennett’s star status grew and gained new followers.

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Lady Gaga brings it closer to a younger audience

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have recorded two albums together. A first in 2014, entitled “Cheek to Cheek” and a second in 2021, “Love for Sale”.

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Awards and Collaborations

Throughout his career, Tony Bennet has collaborated with countless important artists: Amy Winehouse (pictured), Alejandro Sanz, Diana Krall, but also U2, Norah Jones and Stevie Wonder. He has received 18 Grammy Awards and 2 Emmy Awards.

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an american symbol

Tony Bennett became an American icon, a man who went through different eras and got a second chance following a difficult time. In the photo, he appears alongside George W. Bush. He was honored to meet the president, even though the entertainer is a Democrat.

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Retired

The singer is now enjoying his retirement. As the photos on his Facebook account show, he is enjoying life at home with his wife Susan and their Maltese dog ‘Happy’. He displays his talents as a ‘chef’ on social networks. The artist has not forgotten his roots and enjoys cooking pasta and pizza.

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“Life is a gift, even with Alzheimer’s disease”

In February 2021, the jazzman wrote on his social networks: “Life is a gift, even with Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to Susan and my loved ones for their support”. Tony Bennett’s remarkable life and musical accomplishments will forever be remembered by his fans, even as the star gradually forgets his story.

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