NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tony Bennett’s eldest son, Danny Bennett, has revealed the touching last words that the legendary singer said to him before he died at the age of 96. The iconic crooner died late last month on July 21, after a long and illustrious career that spanned seven decades.
There was no specific cause given for his death but he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2016 which was made public in 2021 by her wife Susan Benedetto. His publicist Sylvia Weiner posted on Twitter to announce his death. He wrote, "Tony left us today but he was still singing the other day at his piano and his last song was, “Because of You,” his first #1 hit. Tony, because of you we have your songs in our heart forever."
What were Tony Bennett's last words?
“His last words to me [were], ‘Thank you,’” Danny, 69, told Hoda Kotb on the Today Show on Thursday, August 3. “Can’t say it better than that,” he added. The music legend is survived by his wife Susan Benedetto and his four children from his previous marriages to Patricia Beech and Sandra Grant. Danny who was also Tony’s manager, said that his father was a “man of the people” who never took his fame for granted and that he was grateful to witness it first-hand.
“[We] never took that for granted. It was an amazing journey,” he said. Benedetto, who tied the knot with Tony in 2007 after being together for years, also shared her final memories with her late husband on the Show.
'He loved me'
“The music never left him,” Benedetto said, adding that the last song he performed was his very first hit, “Because of You.” “[His last words to me were] that he loved me … he would wake up every day and still say that. He woke up happy every day.” Danny also recalled how Tony embraced new challenges and opportunities in his career, even appearing on MTV and performing with younger artists like Lady Gaga.
“He came into my office one time. And he said, ‘I was watching MTV.’ He goes, ‘I think I can do that.’ And then walked out. And I was like, ‘All right,’” he joked. “I put him on these shows that were, you know, 60,000 kids at RFK Stadium, between Nine Inch Nails and PJ Harvey. And, you know, it was a little nerve-wracking.” Danny added, “He turned to me and he said, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ And he goes, ‘You think Frank [Sinatra] would do this?’ And I said, ‘No.’”
Tony’s collaboration with Lady Gaga resulted in two Grammy-winning albums
Tony’s collaboration with Lady Gaga resulted in two Grammy-winning albums and a close friendship that spanned more than a decade. The duo recorded 2014’s 'Cheek to Cheek' and 2021’s 'Love for Sale.' The pop star paid tribute to her “real true friend” on Instagram on Monday, July 31. “I will miss my friend forever. I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together,” she wrote. “With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power. We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo. But it wasn’t an act. Our relationship was very real.”
