Tony Bennett, 95, enjoys relaxing park day with wife Susan Crow, 55… as he earns Guinness World Record for oldest artist EVER to put out album of new recordings
Tony Bennett, 95, was seen enjoying a relaxing day sitting on a bench soaking up the sun in Central Park this week.
The legendary singing star, who has been suffering from Alzheimer’s, was joined by his wife Susan Crow, 55, who kept an eye on him.
His recent sighting comes after the release of his second and latest duets album with Lady Gaga entitled Love For Sale after a classic Cole Porter song.
In repose: Tony Bennett, 95, was seen enjoying a relaxing day sitting on a bench soaking up the sun in Central Park this week
Gaga and Tony, who stick to the Great American Songbook for their duets albums, called the first one after the Irving Berlin number Cheek To Cheek.
The arrival of Love For Sale won Tony the Guinness World Record for being the oldest artist to put out an album of new recordings.
‘I see a young boy every time I sing with him, and it just makes the experience of singing so freeing,’ Gaga commented to Guinness.
‘To have it be about two souls singing together…and then at the same time, I also take in all his wisdom. The wisdom of all his years.’
Caring: The legendary singing star, who has been suffering from Alzheimer’s, was joined by his wife Susan Crow, 55, who kept an eye on him
During a recent 60 Minutes profile Susan revealed that her husband is not even aware that he has Alzheimer’s.
She shared: ‘He recognizes me, thank goodness, his children you know, we are blessed in a lot of ways,’ adding: ‘He’s very sweet.’
‘When that music comes on, it’s – something happens to him,’ said Gaga. ‘He knows exactly what he’s doing and what’s important for me actually just to make sure that I don’t get in the way of that.’
A couple of months ago Gaga worked with Tony on a two-night farewell concert engagement at Radio City Music Hall billed as One Last Time.
DEtails: During a recent 60 Minutes profile Susan revealed that her husband is not even aware that he has Alzheimer’s
One of the shows happened to fall on Tony’s birthday so Gaga altered the lines of Kander & Ebb’s song New York, New York to fit the occasion.
‘Start spreading the news, it’s Tony Bennett’s birthday,’ she sang according to a review of the show in USA Today.
Gaga, whose Christian name is Stefani Germanotta, gushed: ‘He’s my friend. He’s my musical companion. He’s the greatest singer in the whole world.’
She led a round of applause for him after he sang his signature tune I Left My Heart In San Francisco to close Tuesday’s show.
Small mercies: She shared: ‘He recognizes me, thank goodness, his children you know, we are blessed in a lot of ways,’ adding: ‘He’s very sweet’
The venue was sold-out and Tony sang solo for a half an hour, receiving multiple standing ovations as he worked through the set.
Tony’s Alzheimer’s was confirmed in an AARP Magazine profile where Susan shared that he occasionally becomes unaware of where he is.
While he recorded his upcoming second duet album with Lady Gaga between 2018 and 2020 his condition was evident, Susan said.
In the profile it emerged that Susan also ensures he gets a workout three times a week because the illness’ effects can be ameliorated by good blood flow.
Magic of music: ‘When that music comes on, it’s – something happens to him,’ said Gaga: ‘He knows exactly what he’s doing….’
She also serves him a Mediterranean diet which is said to be helpful for those suffering from the degenerative condition.
Gaga’s collaboration with Tony began in 2011 when they sang the Rodgers And Hart classic The Lady Is A Tramp together for his album Duets II.
‘The fact that Tony sees me as a natural-born jazz singer is still something that I haven’t gotten over,’ she said in his AARP Magazine profile this year.
Cheek To Cheek followed in 2014 and then the year after the album came out they went on tour in support of it through North America and Europe.
What a show: A couple of months ago Gaga worked with Tony on a two-night farewell concert engagement at Radio City Music Hall billed as One Last Time
Susan made the decision to disclose Tony’s Alzheimer’s disease in conjunction with the singing star’s eldest son Danny from a previous marriage.
During the AARP profile Susan revealed that Tony was so far gone that they had to elect to reveal his Alzheimer’s without consulting him.
Danny said he ran the decision by Gaga ‘because she watches his back all the time. She was like: “Absolutely, it’s just another gift that he can give to the world.”‘
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