Tony Bennett’s Alzheimer’s Struggle: How Music Serves as a Refuge

Alzheimer’s disease has struck legendary singer Tony Bennett, yet it has failed to silence his iconic voice.

In the latest issue of AARP The Magazine, Bennett’s wife and son divulge that he was diagnosed with this irreversible neurological condition in 2016. The publication notes that Bennett experiences “increasingly infrequent moments of lucidity and cognizance.”

However, Bennett’s passion for music persists. He rehearses routinely and runs through his 90-minute set twice a week with his long-term pianist, Lee Musiker. The magazine highlights that Bennett performs with impeccable pitch and seemingly effortless grace.

Tony Bennett, 1926-2023

A Virtuoso of American Musical Classics, Bennett passes away at 96

Known for his remarkable interpretations of American classics, Bennett’s illustrious career, topping charts for seven decades, has earned him much love. “He’s not the same Tony anymore,” his wife, Susan, expressed to the magazine, “but when he sings, he is the Tony we remember.”

Bennett, who became a pop sensation in the early 1950s, witnessed a resurgence in his career in the 1990s and managed to captivate younger audiences, thanks in part to his appearance on “MTV Unplugged.” He relentlessly pursued recording and touring. His 2014 collaboration with Lady Gaga, “Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek,” even debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that over 5 million Americans are currently grappling with Alzheimer’s dementia, with one in every ten individuals aged 65 and older suffering from the disease.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tony Bennett Alzheimer’s

More about Tony Bennett Alzheimer’s

• Tony Bennett’s Official Website
• Alzheimer’s Association
• AARP The Magazine
• Billboard Chart History: Tony Bennett
• “Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek” on Billboard
• MTV Unplugged