American music icon Tony Bennett passes away at 96.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

Tony Bennett, one of America's most cherished and instantly recognizable voices, passed away at 96. His melodious voice has provided the soundtrack for countless romantic evenings, touching the hearts of generations.

Sylvia Weiner, Bennett’s publicist, conveyed the news on Friday, revealing he died at home in New York. While the cause of death has yet to be disclosed, Bennett's family revealed in AARP magazine on February 1, 2021, that he had been privately battling Alzheimer's for the past five years, yet he managed to keep recording music.

Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, in Astoria, New York City, Bennett's musical journey began after studying singing at the American Theatre Wing. Legendary African American singer Pearl Bailey was pivotal in discovering Bennett, hiring him as her opening act in 1949.

Bennett quickly made a name for himself, signing with Columbia Records and delivering hits like "Rags to Riches" and "Because of You.” However, his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," released in 1962, catapulted him to stardom.

By blending hints of pop and jazz elements into his music, Bennett earned multiple accolades, including two Grammy Awards in 1962 for Record of the Year and Solo Vocal Performance. Throughout his remarkable career, spanning seven decades, Bennett accumulated a staggering 20 Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Aside from his musical genius, Tony Bennett was an ardent civil rights activist and a World War II veteran. He fearlessly joined Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 march from Selma, Alabama, despite the risks to his predominantly white audience at the time.

In the '70s and '80s, as popular music evolved, Bennett's style fell out of fashion, leading him into a dark period of drug use. However, he triumphed over adversity in the '90s, experiencing a breathtaking comeback. Embraced by the MTV generation, Bennett collaborated with younger pop stars and even won a Grammy for Album of the Year for his 1994 "Unplugged" set.

Tony Bennett was a gifted visual artist, exhibiting his paintings in prestigious venues like the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In his later years, Bennett's love for the arts led him and his wife, Susan Benedetto, to founding the nonprofit, Exploring the Arts, which is dedicated to supporting and funding arts education in public high schools. In honor of his influence and dedication to the arts, the New York City public high school, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, was established in Astoria.

Tony Bennett is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, whom he married in 2007, and four children, including Antonia Bennett, who followed in her father's footsteps as an accomplished standards singer.

Sources: Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96 | AP News; Tony Bennett, one of the most beloved voices in the history of American music, dies at 96 (msn.com)