Posted on 02/01/2021 1:11:20 PM PST by SeekAndFind
NEW YORK (Reuters) -The family of Tony Bennett has revealed that the legendary singer has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, breaking their silence on his condition four years after he was diagnosed with the progressive, memory-destroying disease.
His wife Susan told AARP Magazine in an interview published on Monday that the 94-year-old singer, whose first hit “Because of You” was released in 1951, had been losing his ability to make decisions. In an effort to keep working, Bennett had been hiding his diagnosis, she said.
Bennett remains upbeat but his condition is increasingly deteriorating, his wife said.
“He would ask me, ‘What is Alzheimer’s?’ I would explain, but he wouldn’t get it,” his wife told AARP Magazine.
Gayatri Devi, a neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and author of “The Spectrum of Hope” about Alzheimer’s, diagnosed Bennett in 2016.
Devi has strongly encouraged Bennett’s family to keep him singing and performing for as long as he can enjoy it.
“It kept him on his toes and also stimulated his brain in a significant way,” Devi is quoted as telling AARP Magazine.
The disease, the most common form of age-related dementia, causes a decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
It leaves its victims dependent on caregivers, although Bennett so far has been spared the disorientation that can sometimes prompt patients to wander from home or experience terror, rage or depression, AARP Magazine said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
He left his brain in San Francisco a long time ago.
A long lived, nicely sounding while singing, libtard.
“Perry Como all time best crooner.”
I think the best was John Gary. His vocal range was unbelievable.
Matt Munro was good, as well.
The man has / had so much wonderful talent and gave so many people joy.
It is somewhat sad a few people will give that up because of who he supported politically and at the same time they are upset that people are being shunned for supporting President Trump.
I think whenever we Freepers contemplate some artist who holds antithetical views to our own we have to approach their art separate from the artist if we are to enjoy anything about it. If we cannot for whatever reason it’s probably best to reject.
For Bennett it’s easy for me since while a few tunes of his were ok I was never a fan of his. The same problem of an artist being a completely awful person like say Woody Allen means I have to do that compartmentalization if I ever watch any of his movies. Some I can do that with and others no.
I was lucky to see him perform in Chicago in a theatre in the round. piano, bass, drums voice. . He had excellent showmanship and musical acumen, was able to sing accurately improvisational jazz but tone quality was always missing.
Great singer!
For everyone, the voice never gives out. Keep on singing!
I am a (big) fan of Sinatra and other singers of his ilk, but I never cared for Tony Bennett aside from a handful of recordings. Never cared for that raspy, plaintive voice. Even though he seems to be a leftist idiot, he has my sympathy for his condition.
I like and listen to Paul Williams, Dean Martin, and some Sinatra.
You nailed Tony Bennett and his voice. Not for me either.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia are harder on the caregiver, spouse, families, etc. My Mom suffered from a slow and progressive dementia for about 10 years starting at the age of 80. Before being killed by Governor Tom Wolfe, who NEVER properly tested employees at her nursing home, she could remember me and my two brothers because we visited her often. Strangely longer term things and events escaped her.
As for Tony, he will likely get the best care known on earth.
Rest assured he WAS a leftist lunatic.
What a shame, I had a suspicion something was wrong when he said he supported democrats.
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