The odd friends grew close while collaborating to produce two acclaimed jazz albums.
Gaga stopped speaking. The pop diva, along with millions of his fans worldwide, is lamenting the loss of Tony Bennett, a friend and fellow musician who passed away last Friday at the age of 96.
My friend will be missed forever.
I’ll miss chatting with him, singing on recordings with him, and sharing the stage with him. I had the chance to travel through time with Tony. With Tony, I possessed this ethereal power. She claimed that as a vocal duo, they “modernized the music together, transported ourselves to another era, and breathed new life into it.”.
Even so, it wasn’t an act. Our friendship seemed to be very sincere. Sure, he taught me about music and show business, but he also showed me how to be optimistic and maintain my composure. Straight ahead, he would say. He was an optimist who valued both a fulfilling life and a good career. There was also Tony’s appreciation; he was always grateful.
In addition to marching with Martin Luther King Jr., he took part in the Second World War. , and performed jazz alongside the world’s top singers and musicians. I’ve been grieving Tony’s loss for a very long time. We had a long and emotional farewell. Despite having lived five decades apart, he was still my friend.
My best friend. The age difference didn’t matter; in fact, it gave us both advantages over other relationships that we wouldn’t have had. At two different points in our lives, we were two entirely different people. While tragic, losing Tony to Alzheimer’s has also been incredibly lovely.
“When a person is suffering from memory loss, their life is so sacred. The need to uphold one’s reputation and a strong sense of vulnerability are both present. All I wanted was for Tony to know how much I loved and valued having him in my life.
I knew in the depths of my soul that he was sharing with me the most exposed time in his life that he could because of his willingness to sing with me even though his nature was drastically changing. I’ll never forget this experience. Tony Bennett will live on in my memory forever.
“Respect your elders and don’t leave them behind when things change, I would say to the world if I could share anything about this. Grief is a normal part of life; don’t let it stop you from moving forward when you’re upset. If you treat your elders with respect, I promise you’ll gain some wonderful knowledge. even miraculous, maybe. Pay attention to the silence as well; some of my musical partner and I’s most moving conversations involved no melody at all.
“Tony, you are my favorite. Love, Lady,” the singer ended the post.
When Lady Gaga performed “Orange Colored Sky” at a 2011 charity concert in New York City, Tony approached her and said, “Lady, you are a jazz singer. Additionally, Tony sang duets with a variety of musicians, including Amy Winehouse, Diana Krall, and others. He was so taken by the pop superstar’s jazz abilities that he immediately invited her to record “The Lady Is a Tramp” for his Duets II album, which was released that same year.
In regards to the recording session, Tony told Rolling Stone that “she came in so prepared and so knowledgeable about what to do. She is equally talented to Ella Fitzgerald or anyone else you can think of. Without even mentioning her dancing, her views on dispelling untrue myths, or how she handles uncomfortable social situations. She possesses incredible strength. If they just let her get on with what she needs to do, she might end up becoming America’s Picasso. I’m aware that seems improbable. Her talent is amazing.
They once again shared the stage in January 2013 during President Barack Obama’s second inauguration celebration.
Along with the Grammy-winning “Cheek to Cheek,” Gaga and Tony collaborated on two albums.
Including the Grammy-winning “Cheek to Cheek,” Tony and Lady Gaga worked together on two albums.
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2014 saw the release of Cheek to Cheek, a full-length album of pop jazz standards they worked on together at Gaga’s suggestion. The album, which also featured the songs “Lush Life,” “Anything Goes,” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and went on to sell about 800,000 copies in the US alone.
Tony has been dubbed “the greatest singer in the world” and “my musical companion” by Gaga.
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As well as being “my musical partner,” Gaga has referred to Tony as “the greatest singer in the world.”. “.
In spite of Tony receiving an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis in 2016, the duo persisted, and Love for Sale, their subsequent album, was released in 2021. Gaga was in awe of her friend and mentor for the duration of their friendship and the time they spent making together. She acknowledged to AARP, “I still haven’t gotten over Tony seeing me as a natural-born jazz singer. “.
Gaga and Tony famously shared the stage for one final performance during a series of sold-out performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York City to honor his 95th birthday. The performances were compiled into the television special “One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.”. “.
On August 3, 2021, Gaga introduced her idol at a concert by introducing him as her friend. He is my partner when I perform. Additionally, he is the world’s greatest singer. New York, I’m counting on you to make him smile.
That means you should cheer.
Please shout loudly.
You’d better laugh. You should cry, I hope. Give everything you’ve got, please.
The Lady is a Tramp” was the first song they performed together at a 2011 charity event.
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When Tony’s Alzheimer’s disease got worse, Gaga openly expressed how terrible it was to watch him struggle. She acknowledged to Anderson Cooper, “It’s difficult to see someone change. I think it’s been both beautiful and frustrating to see how it affects him in some ways, while also seeing how it hasn’t affected his abilities. I think he endured a lot so that the world could see that greatness can endure hardship.
When they won the Grammy Award in 2015, Gaga praised their friendship and creative efforts, saying, “I think something I was yearning for myself was a truly authentic partnership, a true artistic interchange…Along with that, Tony proved to be a friend. In addition to spending a lot of time together and making music, we also communicate a lot. The trip has been incredible in every way.
Bennett informed Gaga that she was a jazz singer on their first date.
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“Lady, you are a jazz singer,” Bennett said when introducing himself to Gaga.
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There are seven grandchildren, his wife Susan Benedetto, four stepchildren, and Tony.
