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Tony Bennett, one of the most legendary and beloved voices of all time, passed away on Friday, July 21. He was 96. Over the course of his seven-decade career, Tony won 19 Grammys and two Emmys. He was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy. Tony’s last public concert performances were at Radio City Music Hall in August 2021 to celebrate his 95th birthday. Just a few months prior to that, Tony’s family announced he’d been battling Alzheimer’s but was still managing to record music. After his passing, Tony’s official Twitter said, “Tony left us today but he was still singing the other day at his piano and his last song was, ‘Because of You,’ his first #1 hit. Tony, because of you we have your songs in our heart forever.”
As Tony was an icon in the entertainment world, many top-line celebrities publicly mourned his death.
Click through to see how he’s being remembered…
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“Just heard about the great Tony Bennett passing. What a legacy of not only superb timeless music, but a class act study in cool, grace, and elegance.” –Keith Urban
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“So sad to hear of Tony’s passing. Without doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see. He’s irreplaceable. I loved and adored him. Condolences to Susan, Danny and the family.” —Elton John
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“Tony Bennett was the 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. 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. 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.” –Billy Joel via Rolling Stone
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“Sending my prayers for and condolences to the family of #TonyBennett whose legendary career spanned seven decades. He marched with us in 1964. He was dedicated to civil and human rights and to the arts. He will live as long as we remember him. #IleftmyheartinSanFrancisco” –Rev. Jesse Jackson
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“My dad played Tony Bennett around the house my whole childhood. His music has always made me feel at home and safe. What a gift he brought to the world and what a classic, beautiful legacy he leaves forever.” –Kelsea Ballerini
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“Very sad to hear about Tony Bennett’s passing. Rest in Peace” –Ozzy Osbourne
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“The Singer’s Singer, Tony Bennett, has died. I’m thankful I was alive during his musical reign, to hear and treasure the music he made and the man himself. He will be sorely missed.” –Bette Midler
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“Tony Bennett was a consummate artist. All you have to do is listen to any one of his hundreds of recordings to recognize that. Very early on, his music quietly wove itself into the fabric of our lives. His voice felt as familiar and as close as the voices of our loved ones. I know that this was true for millions of people around the world. For Italian-Americans who were growing up in the middle of the twentieth century, that familiarity ran even deeper. At a certain point, we started to imagine that Tony would live forever. Of course he didn’t. Nobody does. But the music? That’s another story.” –Martin Scorsese via Rolling Stone
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“Today we lost an icon of icons. Kind, considerate and as Sinatra was quoted as saying, the best singer of them all. Rest In Peace, Tony Bennett.” —Gene Simmons
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“Tis w/ gr8 sadness, we say farewell to the late great Tony Bennett. He exemplified a person who was good as gold, sweet like sugar & a deeply feeling, empathic human being. I wish more had the stuff you were made of Tony. RIP” —Fran Drescher
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David Letterman posted a video of Tony Bennett singing on “The Late Show.” “RIP, Tony,” he wrote.
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“May you Rest in Peace, Tony Bennett!” –Keith Richards
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“From growing up as a child of immigrants, to all the contributions he has made to our community, Tony Bennett was a NYer in the truest sense of the word. My deepest condolences from the Cuomo family to Susan and his four beautiful children. Tony will be missed but not forgotten” —Andrew Cuomo
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“Met Tony Bennett several times. Once I was shooting in a park in NY & saw him walking by. Went 2 door of my trailer & called out & he be came over & asked what I was shooting. Came in, had coffee for an hour til I had 2 go 2 set. Such a talent & such a lovely gracious gentleman!” —Morgan Fairchild
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“We’ve just lost one of the greats of all time.. Tony Bennett.. I’m profoundly sad. God bless you brother and thank you.. for all you have shown us and bestowed upon us..” –Richie Sambora
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“This one shouldn’t sting so much because any of us would take 96 years, but man is it hard to imagine a world without the great Tony Bennett.” —Josh Gad
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“RIP Tony Bennett. His gift for melody and his depth of grasping a lyric was without compare. To the end the master.” –Paul Stanley
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“RIP Tony Bennett. The best of the best. The last of the legends. A man whose heart was as big as his voice. The world’s foremost practitioner of the ‘Art Of Excellence.’ Deepest love and condolences to my friend Danny and the family.” —Stevie Van Zandt
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“Ninety-six is a long life but I still thought he’d live forever. #RIPTonyBennett” —Yvette Nicole Brown
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“My most heartfelt condolences go out to Tony Bennett’s family and friends. They’re also my emotional family and friends” —Nile Rodgers
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“Sorry to hear Tony Bennett passed. He was a smoothie.” —Stephen King
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“Tony Bennett has lived a life we all dream of. He was a beautiful man and a voice for the ages. Rest In Peace My friend.” —Chazz Palminteri
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“Thinkin’ of Tony Bennett” —Brian Wilson
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“Many people are called legends. Few embodied the word like Tony Bennett. His voice. His presence. HIs style. He was timely and timeless. He had an otherworldly talent of coaxing the sublime out of the music he sang. But he was also a consummate craftsman and tireless worker. He earned his longevity and we all benefited from it. He will be missed.” –Dan Rather
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“The great Tony Bennett has passed away at the age of 96. He was the last of his kind, a master of the American songbook. He may have left his Heart in San Francisco, but he won all of our hearts, from Sinatra to Lady Gaga. Be at peace, and sing to us now from the stars, Tony.” —George Takei
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