AT 85 he has just become the oldest living artist to have a number one, so it’s no surprise to see a smile on Tony Bennett’s lips. But that can’t hide the sadness in his eyes.

Just four months after he recorded a duet for his new album with Amy Winehouse, she was found dead at her home.

And as their collaboration shoots to the top of the charts, he admits he’ll always regret not doing more to help Amy fight her drug and booze addictions.

He says: “I think Amy knew that she was very, very ill. She hadn’t told anyone else but I look back now and I realize she did know she was physically in trouble and that she wasn’t gonna live.

“It wasn’t the drugs but the alcohol towards the end, although she was absolutely sober when we recorded. Afterwards I was praying for her though.”

In the 1970s, when Tony’s own career was on the rocks due to the rise of rock, pop and disco, he battled a heavy cocaine habit and knows how difficult it must have been for Amy.

Immaculately dressed as ever in a Savile Row suit, he reveals: “I’ve also had a period of insecurity and darkness but was able to pull out of it.

“A lot of people got into drugs in the 60s but I was able to stop. The few I knew who couldn’t stop have died.

“I wished I had been able to talk to her much sooner to tell her to slow down. When I got the call to say she had died I was so sad – 27 years old and she died.”

Tony and Amy had recorded the jazz classic Body and Soul at London’s Abbey Road studios in March and afterwards Amy said: “Standing shoulder to shoulder with Tony was amazing. It was a dream come true. It’s something I’m going to tell my grandchildren... to tell their grandchildren.” Tragically, she never got that chance.

Since then Tony has become close friends with Amy’s parents Mitch and Janis, and has donated his royalties from Body and Soul to the foundation they’ve set up in Amy’s memory.

On Monday they were guests of honour in the front row of Tony’s sell-out London Palladium concert, joining in the standing ovation that followed his 75-minute masterclass in how to entertain.

Tony goes on: “Talking to Amy’s mum, I know she feels Amy achieved her dream and that is some comfort.

“She was such a beautiful singer. Of all the modern artists I’ve worked with she had the most natural jazz voice.

“Since Elvis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the whole contemporary change that came in she was the only singer that sang what I call ‘the right way’. Her phrasing and tone – she’d got it.”

And Tony should know. He celebrated his 85th birthday with the Palladium concert, is about to jet off to Denmark on another leg of a gruelling international tour and has just worked with many of the biggest names in the business for his new album.

The album in question is the acclaimed Duets II on which Tony performs with 17 stars including Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble and kd lang.

But Tony has recorded over 100 albums, sold millions of records, been in the charts for six decades and won 15 Grammys. So how come he’s so excited this time?

“Well, this one is very special for me,” he explains in his soft New York drawl. “It’s a great way to mark my 85th birthday and I’m now the oldest living artist to have a number one... in fact it’s my first ever number one album.

“But more importantly it gave me the chance to work with these extraordinary young artists and record great songs from the golden age with them.”

Tony is the last survivor of jazz-age royalty and has outlived nearly all his contemporaries.

Born Anthony Benedetto in 1926, he began singing as a youngster but after serving with the US Army in France and Germany during the war he studied in the American Theatre Wing.

In 1949 he was discovered by Bob Hope and signed to Columbia Records and had two hit singles in 1951.

But Tony claims his career took off thanks to Frank Sinatra who heaped praise of the young crooner in a magazine interview in the early 50s. “He changed my life,” said Tony. “I was moderately popular then Frank called me the best he’d heard. Since then I sold out around the world.”

Judy Garland called Tony “the greatest singer in the world”. He has performed for 10 US Presidents, joined Martin Luther King in the 1965 civil rights march and been honoured by the UNfor his humanitarian work. And he was the first celebrity cameo in The Simpsons.

Tony is still best known for his 1962 classic hit I Left My Heart in San Francisco and despite performing it “a million times” he insists he never tires of it.

He has got little time for today’s reality shows like The X Factor (which he made a guest appearance on in 2006) with their emphasis on instant fame.

“It’s wrong,” he says bluntly. “When I was starting out I remember the likes of George Burns and Jack Benny saying ‘Kid, you will have a million-selling record one day but it’s gonna take you nine years before you are a consummate performer’ and they were right. You learn your craft and you work your way up.”

Tony’s incredible voice is now captivating millions of young fans around the world. In 1994 his son Danny became his manager and got him on MTV Unplugged which led to a platinum-selling album and won two Grammys. Then in 1998 he stole the show at Glastonbury.

Does he think any of today’s artists will match his seven decade-long career? “Oh sure,” he says. “Lady Gaga can. When we recorded Lady is a Tramp I was blown away. She is the most incredible talent. She has the potential to be one of the greatest entertainers who have ever lived – bigger than Elvis Presley!”

Tony rushes off to rehearse as his pianist strikes up the chords of the hit both he and Sinatra made famous – The Best is Yet To Come. And even after his extraordinary career you know that Tony Bennett believes every word.

Link :

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/06/tony-bennett-i-wish-i-could-have-helped-amy-winehouse-115875-23469846/