Billy Joel has paid tribute to Tony Bennett as “one of many nicest human beings I’ve ever recognized” following his dying on the age of 96.
The 74-year-old musician took to Instagram to reward Bennett’s “excellent contribution to the artwork of latest music”, over 20 years after the pair collaborated on the 2001 album ‘Playin’ with My Pals: Bennett Sings the Blues’.
Billy wrote on Instagram: “Tony Bennett was the probably the most necessary interpreters of American in style music through the mid to late twentieth century. He championed songwriters who would possibly in any other case have remained unknown to many tens of millions of music followers.
“His was a singular voice that made the transition from the period of Jazz into the age of Pop. I’ll all the time be glad about his excellent contribution to the artwork of latest music. He was a pleasure to work with. His vitality and enthusiasm for the fabric he was performing was infectious.
“He was additionally one of many nicest human beings I’ve ever recognized.”
A consultant for Bennett confirmed his dying in an announcement on Friday (21.07.23), saying: “Tony Bennett, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, Queens on August 3, 1926, has handed away in his hometown of New York Metropolis on the age of 96 earlier at this time. The beloved singer, who was recognized with Alzheimer’s Illness in 2016, is survived by his spouse, Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett, and 9 grandchildren.”