Tony Bennett, the smooth American singer who had an enduring hit with “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and remained perpetually cool enough to win over younger generations of fans well into the 21st century, has died at the age of 96, the Associated Press reported Friday.
Bennett marked his 90th birthday in 2016 with a party in New York that drew celebrities such as Bruce Willis and John Travolta. The Empire State Building put on a light show in his honor. He also published a memoir in 2016 titled “Just Getting Started.” Through it all, Bennett maintained a cool, smiling demeanor, tried to stay faithful to the material he loved best. He always thought of himself as a jazz singer.
Bennett signed with Columbia Records and the result was a string of pop hits such as “Because of You,” a cover of the Hank Williams country standard “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Blue Velvet” and “Rags to Riches.” Legions of screaming teenage girls packed his shows. “People ask me, ‘Don’t you get tired of singing that song about San Francisco?'” Bennett said in a Reuters interview. “I say, ‘Do you get tired of making love?'”
His two “Duets” albums in 2006 and 2011 were hits and brought him wide appreciation among younger listeners because of his collaborations with younger stars.