Veteran Jazz Singer Tony Bennett Retires at 95

Veteran US singer Tony Bennett has retired from performing at the age of 95, his son and manager announced.

Tony Bennett  had earlier this year revealed he has Alzheimer’s  disease and his decision to retire closes the curtain on the crooner’s seven- decade career.

His son Danny said the “hard decision” to cancel the remaining 2021 tour dates had been made on “doctors’ orders”

“His continued health is the most important part of this.” He added

Danny, who has been his father’s manager for more than 40 years, explained that while Bennett’s singing voice remained strong, the pressures of touring meant he “gets tired”, further buttressing the support of Bennet’s wife, Susan.

Bennett performed two sold-out shows with Lady Gaga at New York’s Radio City Music Hall last week. The pair recently recorded a follow-up Love For Sale, which is due for release in October. Last week’s final live performances were held in support of the forthcoming album.

With 18 Grammys and sold more than 50 million records, Bennett has been a star since 1951, scoring hits with songs including I Left My Heart In San Francisco and The Shadow Of Your Smile. Some of his biggest successes have come in the last decade, including the chart-topping duets album with Lady Gaga, Cheek To Cheek, which won a Grammy in 2015.

S.S/BBC