Biography of Tony Bennett: Anthony Dominick Benedetto, a popular American actor, has passed away at his home in New York City on July 21, 2023. He was 96 years old and had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for seven years. It’s sad to lose such a talented actor.
Childhood and Early Life
Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born on August 3, 1926, at St. John’s Hospital in Long Island City, Queens, New York.
It’s interesting to know that Bennett attended New York’s School of Industrial Art, where he studied both painting and music.
He started singing at a young age. He also fought in the European Theater as a U.S. Army infantryman during World War II.
Career – Biography of Tony Bennett
It’s fascinating to know that Bennett started his career as a crooner of commercial pop tunes. His first big hit was “Because of You,” a ballad produced by Miller with a lush orchestral arrangement from Percy Faith.
Chuck Wayne became Bennett’s musical director in 1954. Bennett released his first long-playing album, Cloud 7, in 1955, which featured Wayne and showed Bennett’s inclination towards jazz.
He continued his art career and became very popular for decades.
Bennett holds the record for the longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist, with his first top-10 record being “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1962. Additionally, he broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at 95 years and 60 days old.
Wives and Children
Tony Bennett married Patricia Beech, an Ohio art student and jazz enthusiast, on February 12, 1952.
Tony Bennett and Patricia Beech had two sons, D’Andrea and Daegal. The couple separated in 1965.
He later became involved with actress Sandra Grant and the couple lived together for several years. On December 29, 1971, they quietly married in New York and had two daughters, Joanna and Antonia. They moved to Los Angeles but were married only until 1983.
Tony Bennett married Susan Crow in a private civil ceremony in New York on June 21, 2007. They were married till he passed away.
Cause of death
In February 2021, a source revealed that Tony Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, although he continued to perform and record until the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
Danny Bennett shared that during the announcement of Tony Bennett’s retirement in August 2021, it was revealed that the Alzheimer’s disease was primarily affecting his father’s short-term memory, leading him to forget that he had just performed after a concert.
Tony Bennett passed away on July 21, 2023, at the age of 96, at his home in New York City, after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. His publicist announced his death. In a statement, his family shared that he kept singing until the end and that the last song he ever sang was “Because of You.”
Net Worth
Tony Bennett’s net worth was estimated to be around $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The iconic musician, who was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, established his millionaire status through his work as a singer, songwriter, and occasional actor.