00:00 Tony Bennett has died at 96 years old.
00:07 Bennett's death was confirmed by his publicist on July 21st as The Guardian reports.
00:11 A cause of death has yet to be announced but the legendary singer was diagnosed with Alzheimer's
00:16 in 2016.
00:19 He remained in good spirits however, taking to Twitter in 2020 to say "Life is a gift,
00:23 even with Alzheimer's."
00:26 Bennett grew up in Queens, New York and became a singing waiter as a teenager.
00:31 He later enrolled at New York's School of Industrial Art.
00:36 In 1944, Bennett was drafted to fight in World War II.
00:39 In 2013, he referred to the experience as "legalized murder."
00:43 After returning to the States, Bennett pursued his passion for singing and landed a number
00:46 one hit with "Because of You" in 1951.
00:49 In 1962, he found major fame with his version of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" which
00:53 won him two Grammys.
00:56 Later amid the rise of rock and roll, a drug addiction, and the end of his second marriage,
01:00 Bennett struggled to hold the public's favor.
01:03 But after making some changes in the early 80s, Bennett's 1986 album "The Art of Excellence"
01:07 launched him back into the spotlight.
01:10 He has since collaborated with artists ranging from Paul McCartney to Queen Latifah and Lady
01:13 Gaga.
01:16 After his 90th birthday, Bennett said "I could have retired 16 years ago, but I just
01:19 love what I am doing."
01:23 Bennett is survived by four children.
01:25 He was also a member of the band The Bones.
