American Songbook's king, Tony Bennett, passed away at age 96.

 Tony Bennett, a well-known performer whose voice personified the American Songbook, has passed away. He was 96.

Bennett passed away in the early hours of Friday in New York City, according to a spokesperson for the singer. Despite receiving an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in 2016, he continued to occasionally give live performances and release new music despite his illness. Thanks to his second duet album with Lady Gaga, Love For Sale, he entered the Billboard Top 10 at the age of 95 in 2021. That same year, he also celebrated his retirement with two emotional performances at Radio City Music Hall.

In the 1950s, Bennett made his debut as a slick singer and rapidly became one of radio's most well-liked hit-makers. He was a performer with a cozy nightclub aesthetic. That character followed him around. Like his well-tailored clothing, it was both age-appropriate and always stylish.

When he was 20 years old, he recorded his first sides, which included the song "St. James Infirmary Blues," which was recorded in Germany just following World War II with a U.S. Army band.

He went by the name Tony Bennett, which Bob Hope gave him. However, he was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in the Queens, New York, district of Astoria. He was 10 when his father passed away. He eventually dropped out of high school and began picking up various jobs to support his family.

On the G.I. Bill, Bennett himself studied opera, specifically the bel canto singing style. He claims that to find his voice, a tutor advised him to imitate the phrasing of instrumentalists.

Bennett gained fame as a crooner, but he also enjoyed jazz. He wasn't confident that he could succeed.

Afterward, Bennett's career took off in 1962 after the release of the song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco."

According to Sharon, Bennett's signature song was an accident. Along with some clothing, Sharon discovered the sheet music tucked away in a drawer. Before leaving, he put it in his car.

Bennett was aware of how things were changing, but he wasn't very eager to adapt his music. Bennett largely objected to singing rock, the newest style. Instead, he adhered to the rules and collaborated with jazz pianist Bill Evans to make two outstanding albums. Bennett appeared on The Muppet Show, David Letterman, The Simpsons, and MTV in addition to smaller venues.

He performed on MTV Unplugged in 1994, and K.D. Lang made a guest appearance.

Bennett's next 20 years were aided by the success of the show and CD, which made his voice heard by a whole new generation. He continued to record duets with a variety of artists, including Lady Gaga, who eventually emerged as his staunchest supporter and a spokesperson for a large number of new admirers.

In 2011, he admitted to NPR that music had been the key to his long existence.

Tony Bennett believed that living meant pursuing his passions, which included not only singing but also painting landscapes and portraits that were inscribed with his name, "Antonio Benedetto."