(FoxNews) — He’s won four Grammys, sold over 80 million records and hit the singles “Rags to Riches” and “Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek” all at the age of 95.
So, while he’s not quite a rockstar anymore, Tony Bennett probably wasn’t singing into a pool of sweat when he took the stage in New York City on Saturday night for the final installment of his Grammy winning, 90-show Cheek to Cheek Tour.
The four-and-a-half hour performance at Madison Square Garden was Bennett’s goodbye party, bringing in popular singer-songwriter pop star Lady Gaga in order to close the set list — which also included the “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “I Could Have Danced All Night” that made up the first half of the show, followed by three stunning performances by the ladies of the Greatest Generation.
Gaga helped finish the show with a gorgeous performance of the classic “Cold, Cold Heart” with her beau-in-constant-lock-do, actor Taylor Kinney.
Don’t miss Greg Palkot’ full report on today’s surprise final concert on “Fox Nation”: “Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: The Last Piece,” streaming now.
Bennett also invited Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers to play during the finale, which finished with a three song encore — “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “The Lady is a Tramp” and “I’ve Got the World on a String.”
The majestic ballad “When I Say Goodbye” was the only original song that Bennett would have performed at this concert.
He has been a solo artist in more than 70 years, but his legacy goes deeper than just his music.
He is recognized as a cultural icon for not only his “Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga” duets, but also for his social activism.
While an estranged father, he has been an advocate for his daughter, The Voice in the Eighties, the first voice to benefit from the hiring of women in the music industry during the 1960s.
This past February, he announced that he was working on a musical, “The Love of Four Seasons,” to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1968 movie, based on the Italian film, Can Can.
Bennett’s recent performances have the feel of a classic movie scene, complete with alternating backdrops and sweeping musical accompaniment. But, he had to work with a soundtrack created by Lady Gaga, rather than offer his own unique musical direction.
In a previous interview with FoxNews.com, Bennett explained his recent decision to allow Gaga and musicians from other genres, such as jazz pianist Lang Lang and ex-Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, to perform with him.
“It was a lot of pressure,” Bennett said. “I was trying to do something really unique, you know, telling songs from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and do it with a songwriter-performer that is in today’s music industry.”
Although he has found true love with his long-time partner, Kay, Bennett still found time to be married in 2007 and to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at age 81.
Today, he still revels in the limelight, even if it is just for a few hours.
Bennett recently released his latest album, “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: A Trio CD,” that marks the end of his fourth Grammy Award-winning collection of recordings of his favorite jazz standards with collaborator, pianist Dave Koz.
“It’s been such a privilege for me to have him on my last album,” Koz said on “Fox & Friends” last week. “And I couldn’t be more proud.”
“I think this album is the most important album he’s ever recorded,” said Koz, adding, “He’s this movie musical star all rolled into one — as he himself calls himself.”
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Greg Palkot currently serves as a New York-based senior foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined FNC in 1996 as a correspondent. Follow him on Twitter@GregPalkot.