Legendary singer Tony Bennett (90) says it is with his “deepest regrets” that he has cancelled his concert this Sunday at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

The 19-time Grammy winner has contracted a flu virus and has been advised by his medical doctor to rest and recover.

Fans who bought tickets can avail of refunds from point of purchase.

A statement issued last night said: “Tony sends his deepest regrets to all his fans in Ireland that he will not be to perform for them.

“He was greatly looking forward to being back in Ireland again where he has received such a warm response from audiences over the years”.

The concert was part of his Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 In Concert tour.

He achieved his first No. 1 single ‘Because of you’ in 1951, and since then Bennett has remained a prolific artist.

In 2014, he released Cheek to Cheek, a collaborative album with Lady Gaga, which debuted at number one in the Billboard Album charts.

That attainment made Bennett the oldest musical artist, at the age of 88, to have an album top the Billboard 200.

Bennett’s fifth book, Just Getting Started, co-authored with journalist Scott Simon was published last Autumn.

Born into an Italian immigrant family in Queens in 1926, Bennett’s father died in the middle of the Depression when his son was just ten years old.

His mother was forced to become the sole breadwinner and began working as a seamstress.

Bennett began performing after returning to the States having served in the final months of WWII.

He became hugely successful during the 50s and 60s but says he reached a low point in the 70s during which he experimented with drugs.

His career revived in the late 80s, when he was discovered by a young audience.

Online Editors