Tony Bennett to present Winehouse tribute at MTV awards

Singer Tony Bennett is to introduce a tribute to the late Amy Winehouse at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) this weekend, organisers have announced. The segment will include footage of the pair recording jazz track Body and Soul at the Abbey Road Studios in March.

“It was a thrill to record with Amy,” said Bennett, who called the song “a testament to her artistic genius”.

“Our family is honoured that the VMAs are giving Amy this wonderful tribute,” said Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father.

Columbia Records are to release Body and Soul as a charity single in support of a foundation established by the late singer’s family. The track – the last Winehouse recorded prior to the death – will also feature on Bennett’s Duets II album, which is being released on 20 September.

Lady Gaga, Adele and Bruno Mars are among other artists who will appear at this year’s awards, to be held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. – BBC News

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.