Keith Richards recently took to his Twitter account and posted a picture with the legendary New York pop and jazz singer Tony Bennett who passed away on Friday aged 96.
He posted a throwback picture from 2015 and wrote: “May you Rest in Peace, Tony Bennett!”
May you Rest in Peace, Tony Bennett!
Photo from 2015Photo: J. Bouquet pic.twitter.com/ZYVlktk8tz
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) July 21, 2023
A statement posted on his Twitter account said: “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.”
Sir Elton John, Carole King and Hilary Clinton were among those paying tribute to the star on social media.
Bennett was popular for songs such as The Way You Look Tonight, Body and Soul and (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco. He also collaborated with star performers from Lady Gaga to Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra, who called him “the best singer in the business”.
During a career that spanned eight decades, Bennett sold millions of records and won 20 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award.
Bennett’s death was confirmed by his publicist Sylvia Weiner in a statement to the Associated Press. She said he died in his hometown of New York. No specific cause of death was announced, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, singer Billy Joel said: “Tony Bennett was the one of the most important interpreters of American popular song during the mid to late 20th Century.
“He championed songwriters who might otherwise have remained unknown to many millions of music fans. His was a unique voice that made the transition from the era of Jazz into the age of Pop.
“I will always be grateful for his outstanding contribution to the art of contemporary music. He was a joy to work with. His energy and enthusiasm for the material he was performing was infectious. He was also one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever known.”
