UPDATED with latest: The world of music and entertainment is mourning the loss of Tony Bennett, who passed away at the age of 96. Bennett’s career spanned seven decades and captivated multiple generations, from his crooner contemporaries to the MTV age and his recent collaborations with Lady Gaga. Throughout his remarkable life, Bennett achieved numerous accomplishments, including winning 20 Grammys, selling 50 million records worldwide, and being named a Kennedy Center honoree. He also had a profound impact outside of music, serving in the Army division that helped liberate part of the Dachau concentration camp and marching with Martin Luther King in Selma. Below, you’ll find reactions to his death from Elton John, Brian Wilson, Nile Rodgers, and the Amy Winehouse Foundation, with whom Bennett collaborated on the duet “Heart and Soul.” Additionally, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, whose San Francisco district inspired Bennett’s famous song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” released a statement expressing her sadness. Alec Baldwin, known for his impersonation of Bennett on Saturday Night Live, shared a video reflecting on the privilege of working with the legendary singer. See the heartfelt tributes below.
From Pelosi:
“Paul and I are heartbroken by the passing of Tony Bennett: an extraordinarily gifted singer, a great humanitarian, and a true American patriot. For seven decades, Tony graced us with his beautiful voice, skillful songwriting, and classic tunes. His legendary musical legacy was fittingly decorated with twenty Grammys, tens of millions of records sold, and performances before eleven Presidents. Equally historic was Tony’s devotion to serving his nation. He bravely fought in World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of a concentration camp. He continued his commitment to freedom by marching with Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma. Tony dedicated the rest of his life to humanitarian causes and educating young children in the arts. He was always optimistic about the future.
Personally, Tony was my dear friend, and I had the privilege of sharing many special moments with him. I was deeply honored when he joined me at the Capitol as my special guest for my elections as Speaker. In 2018, we celebrated him in our city by renaming a stretch of Mason Street as ‘Tony Bennett Way’ and dedicating a statue to him. His iconic song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ will forever be one of our city’s official anthems and a part of the American canon.
Tony Bennett is a national treasure. May it bring comfort to his wife, Susan, his children Danny, Antonia, Joanna, Dae, his nine grandchildren, and the entire Bennett family to know that people around the world are praying for them during this sad time.
