Tony Bennett calls Winehouse 'extraordinary'

Singer, 84, was last person to work with British musician before her death

Advertise | AdChoices

Kathy Willens / AP file

Singer Tony Bennett is releasing an album in September that includes a performance by the late Amy Winehouse.

updated 7/25/2011 12:13:21 PM ET

Print
Font:
+
-

Tony Bennett, 84, was the last person to work with Amy Winehouse before her untimely death at the age of 27.

Remember Winehouse on our Facebook page

In a statement to Us Weekly, the legendary singer calls his late friend "an artist of immense proportions. I am deeply saddened to learn of her tragic passing."

PHOTOS: Amy Winehouse's tumultuous life

More Entertainment stories
1. Autistic ballerina dances her way into hearts
  
  In a popular YouTube video, the beaming little ballerina dances an entire four-minute routine seemingly perfectly, matchin...
2. Every on-screen drink in 'Mad Men' in 5 minutes
3. See the 'Dancing' stars' most memorable moves
4. Emmy's biggest snubs? Cranston, Hamm, more
5. 'Toy Story' toys burn up in prank on mom

"She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent and has come to such an early end," Bennett continues. "She was a lovely and intelligent person and when we recorded together she gave a soulful and extraordinary performance."

PHOTOS: Most shocking celebrity deaths

In March, the two musicians recorded the classic pop standard "Body and Soul" at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Story: Singer Amy Winehouse found dead in London home

"I was honored to have the opportunity to sing with her," Bennett tells Us. "It had been my sincere hope that she would be able to overcome the issues she was battling and I send my deepest sympathy to her father Mitchell, her entire family and all of those who loved her."

PHOTOS: Stars we lost in 2010

On Saturday, police found Winehouse lifeless in her Camden Square apartment. Pronounced dead on the scene, Metropolitan Police told Us that as of now, "the circumstances of the death . . . are being treated as unexplained."

Remembering Amy Winehouse's talent

Winehouse is is survived by her parents, Mitchell and Janis, and her older brother, Alex.

Story: Kelly Osbourne mourns loss of Amy Winehouse

Photos: Amy Winehouse

Open in new window

Father's farewell
Mitch Winehouse, the father of the late British singer Amy Winehouse, arrives at Golders Green Crematorium in London for a ceremony for his daughter on Tuesday, July 26.

Amy Winehouse died at her London home on Saturday, July 23, at the age of 27. The cause of death has not yet been determined. (Luke Macgregor / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Winehouse's father says 'good night' to late singer
Remembering a friend
Winehouse friend Kelly Osbourne, sporting a beehive style hairdo in tribute to the deceased singer, leaves after a cremation ceremony in London on Tuesday, July 26. (Ben Stansall / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Always a story
Photographers angle for a shot of guests at the ceremony for Winehouse outside the Golders Green Crematorium in London on July 26. (Chris Jackson / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Fade to 'Black'
Mark Ronson leaves the cremation of Winehouse in London on July 26. The music producer worked on Winehouse's smash album "Back to Black." (Chris Jackson / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Related interactive Reports: No signs of drugs near Winehouse

A family mourns
Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch; brother Alex; former boyfriend Reg Traviss and mother Janis look at memorabilia left by fans of the singer outside of her London flat on Monday, July 25. Mitch Winehouse thanked admirers of his daughter for showing their support, saying "it means so much to me and my family." (Luke Macgregor / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Showered with flowers
A mourner adds to the floral tributes outside Winehouse's home in London on Sunday, July 24. (Danny Martindale / Getty Images ) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Fans pay tribute to Winehouse
Sharing sorrow
Fans gather outside Winehouse's home on Sunday, July 24. (Kerim Okten / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Russell Brand pens touching tribute to Amy Winehouse
Leaving tributes
Fans place flowers and tributes in memory of the singer on Sunday, July 24. (Stefan Wermuth / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Fans snap up Winehouse albums after singer's death
Related story Singer Amy Winehouse found dead in London home

A sad farewell
Winehouse's body is carried into a private ambulance on Saturday, July 23. (Andy Rain / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Paying respects
An Amy Winehouse fan puts a note outside Winehouse's home in London. It reads in part: "Dearest Amy. I'm glad u made it home." (Stefan Wermuth / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Winehouse fan: 'Sad to see her fall'
Mourning Winehouse
British singer and filmmaker Reg Traviss, who reportedly dated Winehouse, looks on as a member of the public passes to lay flowers near the late singer's home. (Joel Ryan / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Celebrities tweet responses to Winehouse's death

Advertise | AdChoices
Final turn in the spotlight
In this June 18, 2011 file photo, Amy Winehouse performs on stage during her concert in Belgrade, Serbia on June 18, 2011. The singer slurred her way through a set as the crowd of 20,000 booed, then left the stage early while her band played without her to fulfill the contract. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Moby: 'I was horrified' at Winehouse's final show

Advertise | AdChoices
An early end
Winehouse performs on stage at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, Britain, on June 28, 2008. (Frantzesco Kangaris / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Kelly Osbourne mourns loss of Amy Winehouse
In court
Winehouse arrives at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court north of London on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010. The singer pleaded guilty to assaulting a theater manager who asked her to leave a family Christmas show starring Mickey Rooney because she had too much to drink. (Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Winehouse pleads guilty to assault charge

Advertise | AdChoices
Front and center
Winehouse attends The Q Awards at the Grosvenor House in London on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. The singer's father, Mitch Winehouse, said recently that she had breast-enhancement surgery. On the British TV show "This Morning," he said she looks "absolutely fantastic." (Dave M. Benett / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Back in court
Winehouse arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London, on Thursday, July 23, 2009. The British singer faces trial for an alleged assault on a woman at a charity ball last September. (Shaun Curry / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
For her Blake, incarcerated
Winehouse arrives at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on Monday, June 2, 2009, where her husband Blake Fielder-Civil was appearing on charges of perverting the course of justice and assault. (Sang Tan / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Sip of Winehouse
Winehouse pauses for a drink while performing for 90,000 spectators on the main stage of the Rock in Rio Lisboa music festival at the Bela Vista Park in Portugal on Friday, May 30, 2009. (Steven Governo / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Q&A with police
Winehouse arrives at Holborn police station after being invited in for questioning on Friday, April 25, 2009, in London. The troubled singer had been accused of assaulting a member of the public during an incident at a pub. (Cate Gillon / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Brit diva
Winehouse performs at the Brit Awards 2008 in London on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The event is the UK's biggest music awards show. (Matt Dunham / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Grammy success
Winehouse hugs her mother Janis Winehouse after accepting a Grammy Award at the Riverside Studios for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony via video link on Feb. 10 in London. Winehouse won five out of her six nominations including record of the year, best new artist, song of the year, pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. (Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Blonde having less fun
Temporarily blond and without her trademark beehive hairdo, Winehouse leaves Snaresbrook Crown Court in London after a hearing for her husband Blake Fielder-Civil on Friday, Jan. 18. (Sang Tan / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Free to bee
Winehouse performs at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago on Aug. 5, 2007. The tattooed, beehived soul singer has often had her immense musical talents eclipsed by her struggles off stage. (Brian Kersey / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
'No, no, no ...'
Winehouse performs at the Glastonbury music festival, in Pilton, England on June 22, 2007. "Rehab" became the hit song from the British singer's second album, "Back to Black." (Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Before their troubles
Winehouse and husband musician Blake Fielder-Civil arrive at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre on June 3, 2007, in Universal City, Calif. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Bursting onto the scene
Winehouse arrives at the Earls Court Arena in London for the Brit Awards on Feb. 14, 2007. She won the award for Best British Female Solo Artist. (Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Understanding addiction
Actor Russell Brand hugs Winehouse in 2006. Himself a former addict, Brand wrote a touching blog post after Winehouse's death about the struggles of addiction and pleaded for readers to help those in their lives with similar troubles. (Dave Hogan / Getty Images file) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Russell Brand pens touching tribute to Amy Winehouse

Advertise | AdChoices
Pre-bee
Looking a bit healthier, and without her trademark hairdo and tattoos, Winehouse poses in the pressroom at the annual Nationwide Mercury Music Prize at the Grosvenor House on Sept. 7, 2004 in London. (Dave Hogan / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices

Timeline: Life and times of Winehouse

A look at her early musical success, personal stumbles and unexpected death at age 27.

TODAY.com | Link |

Video: Tony Bennett on Amy Winehouse’s untimely death

Open in new window

Closed captioning of: Tony Bennett on Amy Winehouse’s untimely death

Advertise | AdChoices

>> special guest. legendary singer and 15-time award winner and just when everybody, it's his 85th birthday.

>> happy birthday , tony!

>> and here to celebrate, you have a new album coming out. and on this album -- sure do.

>> on this album you've got, what, lady gaga .

>> lady gaga .

>> queen latifah , willie nelson , john mayer .

>> this is called duet 2. on a more serious note, tony, also you sing on this album with amy winehouse .

>> that's right.

>> i believe you're the last person to perform with her.

>> yeah. that was the last record she made.

>> what was the experience like?

>> it was great. she sang beautiful. when everybody hears that record, it's actually what's going to happen is that we're putting it ahead of the album and it's going to be a foundation that her father started to teach all the young children not to take drugs. and all the royalties of the record will go to that.

>> we wanted to do a little something to mark your birthday. the official birthday party happens at the mets a little later on. but take a look at this, to be any, just from us to you.

>> oh, my gosh.

>> wish you a very happy birthday .

>> beautiful. thank you very much.

>> picture of your album is on the top of this cake there.

>> great.

>> thank you very much.

>> tony, can you sign it?

>> he said that to me once, tony.

>> she's the only one that fell for it.

>> i come between you and the cake.

>> we love you, pal. happy birthday .

>> happy birthday . we'll cut you

Show transcript

Tony Bennett calls Winehouse 'extraordinary'

Singer, 84, was last person to work with British musician before her death

Below:

Jump to photos Amy Winehouse

Jump to timeline Life and times of Winehouse

Jump to video Tony Bennett on Amy Winehouse’s untimely death

Photos: Amy Winehouse

Father's farewell

Remembering a friend

Always a story

Fade to 'Black'

A family mourns

Showered with flowers

Sharing sorrow

Leaving tributes

A sad farewell

Paying respects

Mourning Winehouse

Final turn in the spotlight

An early end

In court

Front and center

Back in court

For her Blake, incarcerated

Sip of Winehouse

Q&A with police

Brit diva

Grammy success

Blonde having less fun

Free to bee

'No, no, no ...'

Before their troubles

Bursting onto the scene

Understanding addiction

Pre-bee

Timeline: Life and times of Winehouse

Video: Tony Bennett on Amy Winehouse’s untimely death

Closed captioning of: Tony Bennett on Amy Winehouse’s untimely death

More on TODAY.com

Paralyzed pig Chris P. Bacon gets a book deal

Christie on upcoming Obama visit: 'I'll be here to welcome him'

Okla. principal: ‘After the tornado, the crying stopped’

Who the Bluth are you?! Meet the 'Arrested' gang