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Birth of a legend - Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 in Astoria, NYC. His parents were John Benedetto, who had emigrated to the US from southern Italy, and Anna Suraci.

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Early life - Growing up in the Great Depression, Bennett turned his ear to music. Early influences included Al Jolson, Judy Garland, and Louis Armstrong.

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Music, Art, and World War II - He studied painting and music at New York's School of Industrial Art. He later saw action as an infantry rifleman in the last stages of WWII.

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First recordings - Bennett began recording in 1949. His first big hit was 1951's 'Because of You.' Other notable songs from the '50s include 'Rags to Riches' and 'Stranger in Paradise.'

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'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' - By now an established star, Bennett won his first Grammy Award in 1962 for 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco,' a track which has since become his signature song. The album of the same title won Record of the Year.

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Royal Variety Performance, 1965 - Pictured: Bennett is a class act in London during the Royal Variety performance, attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

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New Musical Express Poll Winners' Concert, 1965 - The American crooner presents the Fab Four with awards during a break in the Beatles' set at the Wembley Pool venue, London 

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8th Annual Grammy Awards, 1966 - At the piano with jazz legend and bandmaster Duke Ellington (1899–1974). 

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Low point 1965-1980 - The latter half of the '60s saw Bennett's commercial fortunes decline. By the decade's end, he had no recording contract and his personal life was in disarray. The 1970s were equally demoralizing.

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A steady passion for painting -

An accomplished artist, Bennett would sketch or paint nearly every day, and signed finished work under his real name Anthony Benedetto, or just Benedetto.

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Tony Bennett and Louis Armstrong, 1970 - Jazz legend Louis Armstrong (1901–1971) with a portrait of himself drawn by Bennett, a lifelong friend.

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'Lady Sings the Blues,' 1973 - With Diana Ross for the premiere of 'Lady Sings the Blues' at the ABC 1 Cinema, London. 

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Comeback, 1990 - By the late 1980s, Bennett was back in business. Appearances on TV shows geared towards a younger audience (including a memorable MTV Unplugged gig) won him a new fan base. He was making a comeback, picking up numerous awards along the way.

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World Music Awards, 1995 - All smiles in Monte Carlo as he proudly showed off his World's Best-Selling Jazz Artist of the Year award and Legend Award, which he received for his outstanding contribution to the music industry.

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Super Bowl XXIX, 1995 -

Bennett held down a Latin vibe during the Super Bowl XXIX halftime show. The San Diego Chargers faced the San Francisco 49ers at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. The 49ers won.

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45th Annual Grammy Awards, 2003 - Hoisting his Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy for 'Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues' (2001).

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Kennedy Center Honors, 2005 - Bennett, along with dancer Suzanne Farrell, actress Julie Harris, actor Robert Redford, and singer Tina Turner are congratulated by US President George W. Bush during a reception for the Kennedy Center Honors at the White House.

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59th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2007 - A duet with Christina Aguilera proved to be one of the highlights of the prestigious event, held in Los Angeles.

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59th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2007 - Later, Bennett accepted his award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for 'An American Classic.'

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'Life is a Gift,' 2012 - Bennett's rich and beautiful memoir, 'Life is a Gift,' charts his life, from growing up in Depression-era America to becoming one of the world's best-loved entertainers.

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54th Annual Grammy Awards, 2012 - Clutching his awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album ('Duets') and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ('Body And Soul,' with Amy Winehouse).

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Rome, 2012 - Bennett and daughter Antonia perform together at a concert in the Italian capital. Bennett's father was born in southern Italy, and the concert was somewhat of a homecoming for the American singer.

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Rally against gun violence, 2013 - The singer speaks to residents as they take part in a rally against gun violence in New York. 

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Cheek to Cheek Tour, 2015 - Bennett and Lady Gaga appeared on the road together for the Cheek to Cheek Tour to promote their album, 'Cheek to Cheek' (2014). She's pictured here helping to celebrate his 90th birthday.

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Tony Bennett Benefit Dinner and Concert, 2016 - Here he is under the spotlight on the famed Venetian Room stage at the Fairmont San Francisco to celebrate his milestone 90th birthday. It was here, in 1961, that he first performed his signature song, 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco.'

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'The Best Is Yet To Come,' 2016 - Here his daughters, Johanna and Antonia, help to celebrate Bennett's 90th birthday.

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Keep Memory Alive's 20th Annual Power of Love Gala, 2016 - Bennett rubbed shoulders with Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

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90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 2016 - A few months after his 90th birthday, Bennett was invited to perform at the 90th Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. He appeared with the Muppets' Miss Piggy to sing 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town.'

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Royal Albert Hall, London 2017 - Bennett acknowledges the standing ovation afforded to him at the close of his triumphant UK concert appearance.

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60th Annual Grammy Awards, 2018 - Bennett was snapped arriving at New York's Madison Square Garden, where he took home the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy for 'Tony Bennett Celebrates 90' (2016). 

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Marriages -

Bennett tied the knot three times. His first marriage was to Patricia Beech in 1952, then he married Sandra Grant in 1971. Wife number three was Susan Crow, whom he married in 2007.

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His last show, 2021 -

As his last show, Bennett gave a heart-wrenching farewell performance in New York City billed as 'One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga,' revealing his immediate retirement. The sold-out concert with Lady Gaga aired on CBS on November 28, 2021, and Bennett positively shone, singing standards like 'Fly Me to the Moon' and 'Steppin' Out With My Baby.' He also performed duets with Lady Gaga including 'Love For Sale' and 'Anything Goes,' and Gaga herself teared up when she took a moment onstage to talk about him.

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The 20th Grammy -

In 2022, Bennett and Lady Gaga won a joint Grammy for their collaborative album 'Love For Sale.' It was his 20th win at the prestigious music awards ceremony. 

See also: Who are the most influential jazz artists of all time?

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