09 September 2011
Newsdesk
Tony Bennett wishes he’d talked to Amy Winehouse about her moments of “insecurity and darkness”.
The veteran singer recorded a track called Body and Soul with the British jazz star several months before her death this year. The song will now be released on what would have been Amy’s 28th birthday, with all proceeds going to a foundation being set up in her name.
Tony gave an interview to British newspaper The Guardian three weeks before Amy passed, in which he expressed a desire to talk to her about her demons.
“Of all the contemporary artists I've worked with, she has the most natural jazz voice. Her phrasing and tone – she's got it,” he said.
“She was lovely. But I'd like to talk to her, and what I'd like to say to her is very personal. I've also had a moment of insecurity and darkness, and was able to pull out of it.”
Tony used cocaine in the 70s as his career began to wane. He explained many people were using illegal substances at the time, although that doesn’t mean he advocates his actions.
He realised he needed to get clean, but knows it isn’t as easy for everyone.
“At one time, everyone in Vegas was on drugs. But I was able to stop. The few people I knew who couldn't stop have died, so I'm praying for her. She'd help everyone by sobering up and cleaning up her spirituality,” he said. “She'd help the world by showing she could do it.”
Amy passed away at her London home in July. She’d had a high-profile battle with drink and drugs, although toxicology tests showed no illegal substances were in her system when she died. She had drunk some alcohol though. Her cause of death won’t be known until an inquest is held next month.
