The world is mourning the loss of Tony Bennett, the legendary singer who passed away at 96 years old.
Confirmation of Bennett’s death was given to the Associated Press by publicist Sylvia Weiner, who noted that Bennett would have celebrated his 97th birthday on August 3.
In honour of Bennett, many musical artists have taken to social media to express their admiration for him.
Michael Bublé, a modern-day crooner, shared a photo of himself with Bennett and wrote, “Tony Bennett is one of the greatest vocalists, storytellers and interpreters of all time. To say he was an important part of who I became is an understatement. My grandpa was constantly playing Tony Bennett records when I was growing up, and it was the honor of a lifetime to learn from him. Having my hero take me under his wing was one of the greatest moments of my life and my career. How did I get so lucky to kneel at the feet of the master for 2 decades? Tony, I’ll never stop learning from you, and I promise you I’ll do my best to keep the music we cherish alive. Rest in peace.”
Other celebrities such as Harry Connick Jr. and John Mayer also posted about Bennett, with Connick Jr. describing him as “an American classic.”
Bennett earned 19 Grammys, and in a 1965 Life magazine interview, Frank Sinatra described Bennett as “the best singer in the business”. Sinatra said, “For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more.”