Legendary American crooner Tony Bennett dies aged 96

Tony Bennett, known for his performances with the likes of Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, and Michael Bublé, sold millions of records around the world and won 20 Grammys over his long career. His first was for the signature 1962 song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", and his last – almost six decades later – in 2022.

Alongside Lady Gaga, Bennett won the Grammy for Traditional Pop Vocal Album for 2021’s Love for Sale – their collection of Cole Porter standards. At the age of 95, this made Bennett the second oldest Grammy Award winner. He was also honoured with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

His 2011 duet with Amy Winehouse, "Body And Soul", was the last song she recorded before her death.

“To me, life is a gift, and it's a blessing to just be alive. And each person should learn what a gift it is to be alive no matter how tough things get.” - Tony Bennett pic.twitter.com/pkOACtnvtj

— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) October 13, 2022

Bennett revealed in early 2021 that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2016, but he kept recording after the diagnosis, performing well into his 90s, and famously tweeted, "Life is a gift - even with Alzheimer's."

Due to his illness, Bennett's final performance was at Radio City Music Hall in August 2021.

His publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett’s death, revealing he passed away in his hometown of New York. His official cause of death, which comes just two weeks short of his 97th birthday has not yet been announced.