Tony Bennett, MTV to pay tribute to Amy Winehouse (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Tony Bennett will pay tribute to late singer Amy Winehouse during a special segment of the "2011 MTV Video Music Awards" on August 28, the network announced Tuesday.

Bennett and Winehouse recorded the track "Body and Soul" together a few months before her death, and the song will appear on Bennett's album "Duets II," out September 20.

Their team-up has the distinction of being Winehouse's final recording. Video footage taken during their session at London's Abbey Road Studios will accompany the tribute.

"It was a thrill to record with Amy Winehouse and when you listen to the recording of 'Body and Soul,' it is a testament to her artistic genius and her brilliance as one of the most honest musicians I have ever known," said Bennett in a statement.

Mitch Winehouse, the singer's father, added, "Our family is honored that the VMAs are giving Amy this wonderful tribute. We know that Amy's performance of 'Rehab' at the MTV Movie Awards played an important part in Amy's worldwide success."

"Body and Soul" will be released as a single on September 14 -- which would have been Winehouse's 28th birthday.

Yahoo! News

Tony Bennett to get champagne celebration at Open (AP)

NEW YORK – Tony Bennett turned 85 earlier this month, but his birthday celebration continues, and will be part of this year's U.S. Open.

Bennett, a big tennis fan, will be feted at the Open's president's box before the opening ceremonies on Aug. 29 with Moet & Chandon, which is sponsoring the tennis grand slam for the first time this year. He'll autograph a special bottle, which will be auctioned for charity during a special reception.

"It's for him, and also the charitable component to our involvement in the U.S. Open, which is very, very important," said Daniel Lalonde, president and CEO of Moet & Chandon.

The brand is also having other celebrities who visit its Open suite autograph bottles. Those bottles will also be auctioned for the United States Tennis Association's charity USTA Serves, which is dedicated to helping at-risk and disabled children through tennis.

___

Online:

http://www.usopen.org

Yahoo! News

Amy Winehouse duet with Tony Bennett going to charity (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A duet between jazz great Tony Bennett and the late singer Amy Winehouse is being released as a single to benefit a charity established by her father, Bennett's spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The classic pop standard "Body and Soul" that Winehouse recorded with Bennett in March is one of her last works. She died unexpectedly at age 27 on July 23, after a long battle with alcohol and drugs.

An official cause of death for Winehouse has not been determined. Her father, Mitch, is creating a foundation in her name to help drug addicts.

Proceeds from Bennett and Winehouse's "Body and Soul" recording, which is being released as a single, will go to the foundation, said Liz Rosenberg, a spokeswoman for Bennett.

The song will also appear on Bennett's "Duets II" CD to be released on September 20.

Bennett, a Grammy winning jazz legend whose biggest songs include "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "Rags to Riches," celebrated his 85th birthday on Wednesday.

He recorded "Body and Soul" with Winehouse at the Abbey Road Studios in London, and has credited her for her abilities as a jazz singer.

Grammy winner Winehouse was famed for her black beehive hair and soulful voice, and is best known for her 2006 song "Rehab" that summed up her struggles with addiction.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Yahoo! News