Celebrities on Friday mourned the death of Tony Bennett while paying tribute to the legendary singer.
What You Need To Know
- Celebrities on Friday mourned the death of Tony Bennett while paying tribute to the legendary singer
- Bennett died Friday in New York at age 96, his publicist said
- Elton John said Bennett was “Without doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see.”
- Tributes also came from Billy Joel, Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler and others
Bennett died Friday in New York, his publicist said. He was 96.
No cause of death was given, but the 19-time Grammy Award winner was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “The Way You Look Tonight” are among the songs he’s best known for.
In an Instagram post, Elton John said Bennett was “Without doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see. He’s irreplaceable. I loved and adored him.”
Billy Joel described Bennett as “one of the most important interpreters of American popular song during the mid to late 20th century.”
“His was a unique voice that made the transition from the era of Jazz into the age of Pop,” Joel tweeted. “I will always be grateful for his outstanding contribution to the art of contemporary music. He was a joy to work with.
“His energy and enthusiasm for the material he was performing was infectious,” Joel continued. “He was also one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever known.”
In a statement, Motown legend Smokey Robinson said: “Tony Bennett was one of the ‘Great Voices of All Times’ and he was always very, very nice to me. Luckily we have his voice on records so we can preserve his legacy forever.”
Singer and actress Bette Midler called Bennett “The Singer’s Singer.”
“I’m thankful I was alive during his musical reign, to hear and treasure the music he made and the man himself,” she wrote on Twitter. “He will be sorely missed.”
Jazz vocalist and actor Harry Connick Jr. tweeted that Bennett “changed the world with your voice.”
“[T]hank you for always being so kind to me… i love you and i’ll miss you very much,” Connick wrote.
Some of the singers Bennett collaborated with on his “Duets” and “Duets II” albums in 2006 and 2011, respectively, also took to social media to salute the iconic crooner.
Country singer Carrie Underwood wrote on social media that Bennett was “the epitome of a gentleman with a God given one-of-a-kind voice.”
Singer-songwriter k.d. lang tweeted: “The indelible imprint of this man. How can we possibly express our gratitude? Only perhaps by understanding the power of a good song, and the generosity of a great singer.”
And country star Tim McGraw said Bennett was a “true icon” and that he was “honored to get to work with him.”
“His remarkable voice and timeless songs have touched the hearts of generations,” McGraw wrote in an Instagram post.
Movie director Martin Scorsese, who featured Bennett’s music in some of his movies, including “Goodfellas,” said in a statement that the singer “was a consummate artist.”
“His voice felt as familiar and as close as the voices of our loved ones,” Scorsese said. “I know that this was true for millions of people around the world.”
Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss said the world lost “an icon of icons.”
And actor Josh Gad wrote it’s “hard to imagine a world without the great Tony Bennett.”
In the twilight of his career, Bennett and pop star Lady Gaga teamed up to record two albums together. They were mutual admirers and became friends. Lady Gaga had not yet commented publicly on Bennett’s death at the time this article was published.
