Highlights from the career of legendary crooner Tony Bennett
The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create “a hit catalog rather than hit records.”




























































ASSOCIATED PRESS
Singer Tony Bennett is shown singing on June 23,1960. Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday, July 21. He was 96.ASSOCIATED PRESS
American singer Tony Bennett and 27-year-old Sandi Grant smile during the reception held at the Hilton Hotel, London on March 8, 1968, for Bennett who is in London for a concert tour.ASSOCIATED PRESS
In his New York apartment on June 3, 1969, singer Tony Bennett finds time to paint a city scene.ASSOCIATED PRESS
American singer, Tony Bennett pictured under an umbrella in the city of London, Jan. 14, 1972, with his new wife Sandie and their 22 month old daughter Joanna.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Singing star Tony Bennett pictured at the Regent Studios in New York on Nov. 11, 1974, as he recorded for A.T. and T. Included are several shots in recording booth as he listens to his voice. Included are several shots in recording booth as he listens to his voice.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Singer Tony Bennett receives a pair of kisses from his daughter Antonia, 9, and actor/comic Red Buttons, left, in Beverly Hills, Calif., April 25, 1983, after he was honored with the Susie Humanitarian Award from the Eddie Cantor Charitable Foundation.ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and singer Tony Bennett, who sang " I Left My Heart in San Francisco," hangs on to the outside of a cable car in San Francisco before taking a test ride, Wednesday, May 2, 1984.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ray Charles, left, and Tony Bennett are shown at the Larabee Studios in Los Angeles Jan. 4, 1986.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ella Fitzgerald, right, sings a duet with Tony Bennett to close the evening, April 26, 1990, at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. Earlier in the evening Bennett arrived with a cake to help celebrate Ella's 73rd birthday.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tony Bennett is pictured at his New York studio where he enjoys painting, May 13, 1991.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tony Bennett holds up his two Grammy awards backstage at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Ca., Wednesday night, March 1, 1995. Bennett won album of the year for "MTV Unplugged" and best traditional pop vocal performance for "MTV Unplugged" at the Grammy Awards.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Carol Burnett kisses Tony Bennett after he won an Emmy for outstanding performance for a variety or music program at the 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif., Sunday Sept. 8, 1996.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Singer Tony Bennett performs during the 58th Annual Tony Awards Sunday, June 6, 2004, at New York's Radio City Music Hall.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tony Bennett reacts after performing the song "I left My Heart in San Francisco" during his 80th birthday celebration at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, on Nov. 9, 2006.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tony Bennett, left, and Stevie Wonder accept the award for best pop collaboration with vocals for "For Once in My Life" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Singer Tony Bennett kisses the award for outstanding individual performance in a variety or music program for his work on the "Tony Bennett: An American Classic" at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, in Los Angeles.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Honoree Tony Bennett arrives at the Los Angeles Confidential Magazine 2012 Grammys Celebration in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tony Bennett poses backstage with the awards for best traditional pop vocal album for "Duets II" and best pop/duo/group performance for "Body and Soul" at the 54th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles.INVISION VIA AP
Singer Tony Bennett poses for a portrait on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, in New York.INVISION VIA AP
Singer Tony Bennett attends the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Washington.INVISION VIA AP
Tony Bennett, left, and Lady Gaga appear at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2015.INVISION VIA AP
Tony Bennett, left, and Bill Charlap accept the award for best traditional pop vocal album for “The Silver Lining: The Songs of John Kern” at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Singer Tony Bennett gestures after his statue was unveiled outside the Fairmont Hotel Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, atop Nob Hill in San Francisco.INVISION VIA AP
Danny Bennett, from left, Antonia Bennett, Tony Bennett, Dae Bennett and Joanna Bennett attend "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come" at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in New York.INVISION VIA AP
Tony Bennett participates in the 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, in New York.INVISION VIA AP
Tony Bennett, left, and Dae Bennett accept the best traditional pop vocal album at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in New York.INVISION VIA AP
Tony Bennett performs at Atlanta Symphony Hall on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, in Atlanta.INVISION VIA AP
Diana Krall, left, and Tony Bennett arrive at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.INVISION VIA AP
Singer Tony Bennett performs at the Statue of Liberty Museum opening celebration at Battery Park on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in New York.