Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
“May you Rest in Peace, Tony Bennett!” The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards shared on Twitter, along with a photo of him and Bennett at an event in 2015.
May you Rest in Peace, Tony Bennett!
Photo from 2015Photo: J. Bouquet pic.twitter.com/ZYVlktk8tz
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) July 21, 2023
Osbourne also shared a throwback photo of him and the singer at an industry event. “Very sad to hear about Tony Bennett’s passing,” Osbourne captioned the photo. “Rest in Peace.”
Joel offered a particularly poignant tribute, as he reflected on Bennett’s legacy alongside a series of photos of when Bennett made an appearance during his residency at Madison Square Garden in 2019. “Tony Bennett was one of the most important interpreters of American popular song during the mid to late 20th century. He championed songwriters who might otherwise have remained unknown to many millions of music fans,” Joel states on his website.
“His was a unique voice that made the transition from the era of Jazz into the age of Pop. I will always be grateful for his outstanding contribution to the art of contemporary music,” Joel continues. “He was a joy to work with. His energy and enthusiasm for the material he was performing was infectious. He was also one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever known.”
Bennett revealed in 2021 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016, but his condition didn't stop him from occasionally performing live or releasing new music.
The crooner who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2016, is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett and 9 grandchildren," his rep told PEOPLE in a statement.
He also collaborated with star performers from Lady Gaga to Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra, who called him "the best singer in the business".
During a career that spanned eight decades, the crooner sold millions of records and won 20 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award.
He reached the Billboard Top 10 at age 95 in 2021 thanks to his second duo album with Lady Gaga, Love For Sale, and celebrated his retirement the same year with two touching nights at Radio City Music Hall.
Bennett hit the scene as a suave crooner in the 1950s and quickly established himself as one of radio's most popular hit-makers. He was a showman, with an intimate nightclub sensibility. He wore that persona everywhere. It was like his tailored suits: age appropriate, yet timelessly cool.
He cut his first sides when he was 20 years old, including the song "St. James Infirmary Blues," which was made right after World War II with a U.S. Army band in Germany.
