Stars are honoring iconic crooner Tony Bennett, who died Friday at 96.
Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett’s loss of life to USA TODAY, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no particular trigger given, however Bennett had been recognized with Alzheimer’s illness in 2016.
After the information broke of his loss of life, celebrities and former musical collaborators took to social media to pay tribute to the singer. Among the many outpouring of messages paying respect to Bennett was one from former President Barack Obama.
“Tony Bennett was an iconic songwriter and entertainer who charmed generations of followers. He was additionally a great man— Michelle and I’ll at all times be honored that he carried out at my inauguration,” Obama wrote in an Instagram publish.
“We’re considering of his spouse Susan, his children, and everybody who’s lacking him right this moment.”
Tony Bennett:Legendary singer and grasp of the American songbook, dies at 96
Viola Davis, Elton John, Carrie Underwood keep in mind Tony Bennett
“The Girl King” actress Viola Davis shared a video that includes varied clips of Bennett on Instagram.
“Nicely….your journey was full sir,” she wrote within the caption. “Your greatness was not simply measured by your expertise however your affect. Generations can be impressed by your work. The angels are rejoicing right this moment by gaining a powerful choir member. Might flights of angels……”
Elton John, who recorded a “Rags to Riches” duet with Bennett for the 2006 album “Duets: An American Basic,” shared some candy phrases on Instagram: “No doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you’ll ever see. He’s irreplaceable. I cherished and adored him. Condolences to Susan, Danny and the household.”
Gayle King shared a trio of photographs of herself with Bennett on Instagram and captioned them with: “that is what a legend seems to be like.. spouse Susan described @itstonybennett as a nationwide treasure & she was proper! what a present he has left us all ..being in his presence at all times particular .. considering of the Bennett household right this moment…”
Actress and SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher took to Instagram to pay her respects.
“He exemplified an individual who was good as gold, candy like sugar & a deeply feeling, empathic human being,” she wrote. “I want extra had the stuff you have been fabricated from Tony.”
Carrie Underwood, who sang “It Needed to Be You” with Bennett in his 2011 album “Duets II,” shared several photos on Twitter, calling Bennett “the epitome of a gentleman with a God given one-of-a-kind voice.” She continued, saying, “it was actually an amazing honor of my profession and of my life to get to share the stage with you…”
Bernice King — CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Heart For Nonviolent Social Change, who can be the youngest daughter to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King — known as Bennett “a nationwide and international treasure who utilized his platform as a legendary performer to face for Civil Rights.
“In 2002, @TheKingCenter, underneath my mom’s management, awarded him our Salute to Greatness Award. It was our honor to honor Mr. Bennett.”
George Takei: ‘Sing to us now from the celebrities, Tony’
“Star Trek” actor George Takei known as Bennett “a grasp of the American songbook” on Twitter.
“He was the final of his sort,” Tekei wrote. “He could have left his Coronary heart in San Francisco, however he gained all of our hearts, from Sinatra to Woman Gaga. Be at peace, and sing to us now from the celebrities, Tony.”
Nancy Sinatra shared on Twitter that “Tony was some of the splendid individuals who ever lived. Form, loving, gifted and beneficiant, he by no means allow us to down. Sending my like to Susan, Danny and their household and mates.”
She added, “Tony was a real champion.”
Actor Josh Gad celebrated Bennett’s full scope of life: “This one shouldn’t sting a lot as a result of any of us would take 96 years, however man is it exhausting to think about a world with out the good Tony Bennett.”
Yvette Nicole Brown wrote that “ninety-six is an extended life however I nonetheless thought he’d stay ceaselessly.”
Producer Nile Rodgers shared his condolences: “My most heartfelt condolences exit to Tony Bennett’s household and mates. They’re additionally my emotional household and mates.”
Stephen King added: “Sorry to listen to Tony Bennett handed. He was a smoothie.”
And Brooke Shields took to Twitter to share photos of herself with the late icon. “You may be ceaselessly missed, Tony,” she wrote. “Your legacy will stay on ceaselessly, not simply on your music, however on your portray and on your coronary heart. I like you. Might you relaxation simple.”
Bette Midler called Bennett “The Singer’s Singer.” She mentioned she is “grateful I used to be alive throughout his musical reign, to listen to and treasure the music he made and the person himself. He can be sorely missed.”
Bennett was a champion for different artists
No vocalist celebrated the American songbook extra energetically or prolifically than the person born Anthony Dominick Benedetto.
Influenced by the jazz and pop icons who preceded him — none greater than Sinatra, but in addition Bing Crosby, Billie Vacation, Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Durante — Bennett wielded his lush, gleaming tenor with a definite freshness and a way of craving that served him properly in early hits comparable to “Rags to Riches” and his cowl of “Stranger In Paradise” (each launched in 1953) and his signature tune, “I Left My Coronary heart In San Francisco.”
Many thought of Bennett the final of the good interpretive singers, however he regularly begged to vary. He was a champion of different artists, outdated and new. He paired up with okay.d. lang and Elvis Costello on the 1994 “MTV Unplugged” album, usually heralded as his comeback. On his multi-platinum “Duets” albums, he collaborated with pop stars from Barbra Streisand and Paul McCartney to John Legend and Carrie Underwood.
Contributing: Elise Brisco, KiMi Robinson, Elysa Gardner, Kristin McGrath
