When Tony Bennett’s household introduced he had Alzheimer’s illness final February, few of the 94-year-old singer’s followers imagined they’d ever see him on stage once more. However this previous summer time, together with his household’s assist, he started rehearsing for 2 live shows at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor, together with his pal Girl Gaga. Nobody knew for positive if Tony would have the ability to pull it off, however his household believed that Tony’s story may give hope to others fighting Alzheimer’s. And invited Anderson Cooper and a 60 Minutes crew to observe him getting ready for, what would possible be his last act.
Tony Bennett has been singing hits and swinging jazz for seven a long time.
However for Tony, now, these years are a dim reminiscence, misplaced within the fog of dementia from Alzheimer’s. He spends a lot of his time in his New York house wanting by means of books and previous photographs.
Anderson Cooper: Is that Bob Hope?
Tony Bennett: Bob and Dolores.
Susan Benedetto: They despatched that on your seventy fifth birthday. And in a month and a half, you are gonna be 95. (LAUGH) How about that?
Tony Bennett: It is superb. (LAUGHTER)
Anderson Cooper: Do you are feeling 95? You do not look it.
Susan Benedetto: How previous do you are feeling, Tone?
Tony Bennett: 95. (LAUGHTER)
Tony has his good moments, however Susan has to do many of the speaking. She says he first grew involved about his reminiscence six years in the past.
Susan Benedetto: We got here house one night time, and he mentioned, “Susan,” he mentioned, “I am having a tough time remembering the names of the musicians.” And–
Anderson Cooper: The musicians he was enjoying with?
Susan Benedetto: Yeah, on s– who he works with on a regular basis. And so it was uncommon. And I mentioned, “Nicely, do you wanna go see a health care provider about it?” And he mentioned, “I do.”
Anderson Cooper: Do you know immediately that it was Alzheimer’s?
Dr. Gayatri Devi: Yeah.
Dr. Gayatri Devi is Tony’s neurologist. She recognized him in 2017.
Anderson Cooper: Are you aware what is occurring in– in Tony’s mind?
Dr. Gayatri Devi: Nobody actually is aware of. However I do know that his hippocampus, which is the Grand Central Station of memories– and the conduit by means of which we retrieve reminiscences in addition to lay down reminiscences will not be working very nicely.
Susan and Tony have been collectively for greater than 30 years, she’s now his full-time caregiver.
Anderson Cooper: How a lot does Tony perceive about what is going on on round him at any given time?
Susan Benedetto: Daily is totally different. Tony late at night time, typically early within the morning, he is extra alert, if I can use that phrase. So, I will inform him, “Tone, you are gonna be on 60 Minutes.” He is, like, “Nice.” I mentioned, “You do not forget that present, 60 Min–” he is, like, “I do.” However in every other given second, he will not know.
Anderson Cooper: I imply, he acknowledges you.
Susan Benedetto: He acknowledges me, thank goodness, his youngsters you realize, we’re blessed in a lotta methods. He is very candy. He would not know he has it.
Anderson Cooper: He would not know he has Alzheimer’s.
Susan Benedetto: Unh-uh [No].
What he does know is that he is at house, not acting on stage. He’d continued to sing after his analysis, however the pandemic took him off the highway. Susan says it has been onerous on him.
Susan Benedetto: It was Gayatri Devi, our physician, who mentioned, “If he desires to singlet him sing as a result of that is one of the best factor for him.” You recognize, all of the meds and all of the remedies they do to stimulate your mind, for him, there’s nothing extra stimulating than performing.
Tony’s oldest son and supervisor, Danny Bennett, got here up with the concept of the Radio Metropolis live shows in August with Girl Gaga. It was broadcast on CBS this fall.
Danny Bennett: The pandemic was a big– (SIGH) it was an enormous factor for me. Like, an– ending his profession on– on that note–
Anderson Cooper: It could not finish that method.
Danny Bennett: Could not finish that method. In any case that he’d– he did.
Tony and Girl Gaga launched their first album collectively in 2014.
In 2018, he was capable of report one other album along with her, which was simply launched late final yr.
By June, nevertheless, his illness had progressed and Susan informed us she wasn’t positive precisely what would occur on the deliberate Radio Metropolis live performance.
However when it was time to rehearse, one thing unimaginable occurred. Tony’s accompanist, Lee Musiker, started enjoying, and instantly the legendary showman was again.
He had no notes, no cue playing cards.
We have been amazed, all his previous songs have been by some means nonetheless there. He sang an hour-long set from reminiscence.
Anderson Cooper: You simply begin playin’ one thing and it is all there?
Lee Musiker: After I begin enjoying, Tony is totally engaged, and this can be a complete new efficiency and new phrases, new nuance. Nothing wanting a miracle.
Dr. Gayatri Devi defined how a metamorphosis like that was doable.
Dr. Gayatri Devi: Individuals reply in a different way relying on their strengths. In Tony’s case, it is his musical reminiscence, his skill to be a performer. These are an innate and hard-wired a part of his mind. So despite the fact that he would not know what the day may be or the place his house is, he nonetheless can sing the entire repertoire of the American Songbook and transfer folks.
Anderson Cooper: How does music stimulate the mind?
Dr. Gayatri Devi: It engages a number of totally different components of the mind, proper? So there’s the auditory cortex for listening to. There may be the a part of the mind that offers with motion and dance. There may be the visible system that will get engaged So it is type of like a whole-brain– activator.
Tony may bear in mind the songs, however may he bear in mind tips on how to carry out them in entrance of hundreds of individuals? Girl Gaga knew it wasn’t going to be simple.
Girl Gaga: And you realize, Anderson, for the primary couple of weeks that I noticed Tony since COVID, he referred to as me, “Sweetheart.” However I wasn’t positive he knew who I used to be.
In rehearsals this July, she discovered new methods to attach and talk along with her previous pal – when asking him questions she’d maintain it easy.
Girl Gaga: For instance, if I have been to say, “Tony, would you prefer to sing ‘Love for Sale,'” he’ll say, “Yeah.” And if I say, “Tony, would you prefer to sing ‘Love for Sale’ or ‘It Do not Imply a Factor if it Ain’t Bought That Swing,'” he won’t have as simple of a response.
Girl Gaga: When that music comes on (SNAP), it’s– one thing occurs to him. He is aware of precisely what he is doing. And what’s vital for me, really, simply to guarantee that I do not get in the best way of that.
On opening night time in early August, Radio Metropolis’s 6,000 seats have been offered out. It was Tony’s ninety fifth birthday and his followers have been ready.
Girl Gaga opened the present. Backstage, Susan did her finest to remind Tony what was taking place.
Susan Benedetto: We’re gonna watch Girl Gaga’s set.
Tony Bennett: Proper.
Susan Benedetto: And you then’re gonna sing. OK?
Tony Bennett: What number of songs am I singing?
Susan Benedetto: I will let you know what you are gonna sing.
When it was time, they walked towards the stage collectively. Then, the lights went out and the curtain went up.
Susan Benedetto: Nicely as soon as he noticed the viewers, and, you realize, and he raises his fingers, he’s– I knew we have been alright as a result of he turned himself. He simply turned on. You recognize, it was like a lightweight change.
There might have been just a few missteps, however the crowd did not care – it was Tony’s night time and the previous crooner was in command.
He sang greater than a dozen songs and obtained at the least 20 standing ovations.
When it got here time for Girl Gaga to hitch him for some last duets, take heed to what Tony mentioned as she appeared on stage…
Girl Gaga: Hey, Tony!
Tony Bennett: Woah, Girl Gaga!… I like that!
Girl Gaga: That is the primary time that Tony mentioned my title in a very long time.
Anderson Cooper: Actually in all of the weeks main as much as it, he hadn’t mentioned your title… wow.
Girl Gaga: I needed to maintain it collectively, as a result of we had a offered out present, and I’ve a job to do. However I will let you know, after I walked out on that stage, and he mentioned, “It is Girl Gaga,” my pal noticed me. And it was very particular.