Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett is an American singer known for performing jazz and traditional pop standards. He is known for his signature song, 1962's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," as well as for songs such as "The Good Life" and "Rags to Riches." Born Aug. 3, 1926, in Queens, New York, Bennett began performing at an early age and worked as a singing waiter in his teens. He served on the front lines in World War II and was discovered by Bob Hope in 1949. Bennett's first big hit was 1951's "Because of You," and over the course of his career, he went on to win 19 Grammys. His 2011 album, Duets II, which included collaborations with artists Lady Gaga, Willie Nelson and Aretha Franklin, won two Grammys and hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making him the oldest living artist in history to capture the top spot. His relationship with Lady Gaga flourished after they first collaborated on Duets II. The pair's 2014 debut album of standards, Cheek to Cheek, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album in 2015. In 2021, they were nominated for six Grammy Awards for work on their joint album Love For Sale. Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016, which his family revealed in a profile in AARP The Magazine in 2021. That same year, he retired from performing to focus on his health. His last shows, at age 95, were in August 2021 with Lady Gaga.