The iconic singer, who turns 96 in less than a month, was seen smiling and waving as he rolled around New York in a wheelchair this week. Last year, the city celebrated Tony Bennett Day on August 3 – his birthday – for the first time, marking the musician’s contribution to music and the arts.
Lady Gaga’s bold friend was seen wearing pristine white sneakers, a pair of comfy Adidas sweats with the famous red stripes down the side, and a blue Nike polo top with a matching black zip-up jacket. His nurse looked just as happy to be out and about in the sunny city as she smiled as Bennett waved to customers inside a restaurant they passed. They were also seen enjoying the vast greenery at the famous park. The Queens-born entertainer has lived most of his life in New York and calls a large penthouse overlooking Central Park home. He moved to his apartment on Central Park South 25 years ago to be closer to it. For his 95th birthday, Sony Music Entertainment – which owns Bennett’s record label Columbia Records – honored him with a park bench named after him. The bench is east of Center Drive near Central Park South and Sixth Avenue, near where he lives. Singer Tony Bennett, 95, waved to customers at a restaurant as he walked by during his walk this week in New York The Grammy Award winner looked happy and upbeat as he made one of his rare appearances in the city, enjoying a sunny and warm day in Central Park The Fly Me to the Moon singer was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016 and retired from performing in August, ending his seven-year career. Since retiring, Bennett has filled his time with painting, cooking and wandering around his favorite park. Early last month, the Grammy Award winner was spotted in the park in another rare appearance, along with his wife Susan Benedetto – who took his original last name. It was the first time the father-of-four was seen using a wheelchair to get around the very inaccessible city.
In August, Benedetto said he still recognized her and his children — sons Danny, 68, and Dae, 67, both born from Bennett’s first marriage to Patricia Beech, which ended in 1971. and daughters Joanna, 52, and Antonia, 48, whose mother is Bennett’s second wife, actress Sandra Grant, who divorced Bennett in 1984. Benedetto and Bennett married in 2007, in a ceremony presided over by former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. Benedetto was a high school teacher who was a fan of the singer. “When he was nineteen he had tickets to see me play at the Masonic Temple in San Francisco and asked to say hello backstage after the show, probably not expecting a response,” Bennett wrote in his book. “The request was sent to me and I was tickled that someone her age was so devoted to my music. “Not only did I agree to greet her backstage, but I asked her to be my date for the night and that’s how it really started.” He didn’t seem bothered by the busy street as he sat comfortably in his wheelchair Lady Gaga’s friend was seen walking around in a wheelchair for the first time last month Nothing can stop him from rolling! The Fly Me to the Moon singer enjoyed the day at his favorite park. She moved to Central Park South 25 years ago to be near him and occasionally seems to enjoy a little green in the concrete jungle When Benedetto and Bennett announced his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in February 2021, he said it was difficult to come to terms with the five years since his condition was confirmed. “There’s a lot about him that I miss, because he’s not the old Tony anymore,” she said in the interview. “But when he sings, he’s the old Tony.” He said he had been spared some of the worst symptoms of Alzheimer’s – such as episodes of rage, terror and depression. Benedetto revealed that the World War II veteran “doesn’t know” he has Alzheimer’s disease. “He recognizes me, thank God, his children you know, we are blessed in many ways. He is very sweet. He doesn’t know he has it,” he said. His assistant also appeared to be enjoying the summer weather as the pair were seen laughing and smiling together this week Bennett was spotted wearing his favorite outfit these days: comfy Adidas sweats, a Nike polo and jacket, and pristine white sneakers