His team had to operate with great sensitivity to his condition. How did that affect the making of the album? Last year, Tony Bennett announced that he had been living with Alzheimer's. And he was clear that it would be an album of songs by Cole Porter. So was it always clear that there would be a sequel?Īccording to Lady Gaga, they had barely finished Cheek to Cheek when Tony started talking about a follow-up. Gaga's sincere attraction to that tradition was something they hoped would resonate with her fan base. Tony has devoted his life to a celebration of the Great American Songbook, and the art of jazz singing. And this is something both artists told me they wanted to achieve.

Isn't that extraordinary chart success for any jazz album? According to Guinness, that's a record he still holds. And as for Tony Bennett: he was 88 when Cheek to Cheek topped the charts in 2014, which made him the oldest artist ever to score a No. There's nowhere to hide, musically, when you're singing in this style. As she told me at the time, Lady Gaga was seeking a certain validation as a singer - and having the Bennett benediction, so to speak, really put her in a different light. I imagine both artists gained something from their pairing. They had an instant spark when they sang together, and it bloomed into a genuine collaboration. But he recognized her vocal talent right away, and she came with an attitude of real deference and humility - she wasn't a dabbler or a dilettante about it. There's a 60-year age difference between Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, and they obviously come from different sectors of the pop firmament. Nate Chinen, WBGO: On one level, yes – pleasantly so. To hear the broadcast version of this story, just use the audio player above.Ī Martinez, All Things Considered : Nate, you've covered this relationship from the start. Nate Chinen, of WBGO and Jazz Night in America, recently spoke with Lady Gaga, about their collaboration. He's 95, and has been living Alzheimers disease. Now, with Love For Sale, Bennett and Gaga are serving up another round but with a poignant twist: It may be Bennet's final album. Singing together first on his album Duets II, and then on their co- album, Cheek to Cheek, Bennett and Gaga made history on the charts while proving some things never go out of style. A decade ago, jazz icon Tony Bennett and pop superstar Lady Gaga struck up one of the great Odd Couple partnerships in recent music history.

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