Tony Bennett dies at 96: a look back at his career in music (44 images)

Singer Tony Bennett holds up a proclamation given to him in 1981 by the City of San Francisco naming his hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" the theme song of the city on April 4, 1984. Bennett was reacting to the San Francisco Board of Supervisor's vote to officially change the song to "San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gate." File Photo by UPI

Bennett poses on December 21, 1987, during his stay in Providence, R.I. The singer toured the country doing symphony concerts and club dates, focusing on the songs of Irving Berlin, whom he calls America’s greatest songwriter. Bennett released an album that year titled “Bennett/Berlin” as a tribute. Photo by Ken Franckling/UPI

Bennett performs for the Quality Inn Downtown Boston gala grand opening on May 5, 1988 in Boston. It was built in 1925 as the Elks Hotel, which subsequently became the Bradford Hotel, and was restored at a cost of more than $33 million. File Photo by UPI

Phil Collins (C) poses with former MusiCares Person of the Year winners Bennett (L) and David Crosby (R) at award ceremonies on February 24, 1997 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI