A duet recorded by Tony Bennet and the late singer Amy Winehouse is to be released as a charity single.
The pair recorded the classic jazz track Body and Soul at London’s Abbey Road studios last March for Bennet’s forthcoming album Duets II.
However, since Winehouse’s death on July 23rd, the decision has been made to release the track as a single and send the proceeds to a new foundation set up by the singer’s father, Mitch.
He is hoping to set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help young people addicted to drugs and alcohol by raising funds for other charities.
Speaking to MTV, Bennet said that the single will be released ahead of his album on September 20th.
“It’s going to a foundation that her father started – to teach all the young children not to take drugs, and all the royalties of the record will go to that,” he said.
The track is one of the last songs Winehouse recorded before her death and the news that it is to be released has been welcomed by Mitch Winehouse.
“Amy was so excited to be working with Tony Bennett and really looking forward to her fans hearing this new recording,” he said.
“The fact that Amy’s voice is sounding as amazing and beautiful as ever and she is singing with the great Tony Bennett seems the most fitting tribute of all at this very difficult time.”
Since her death, Winehouse’s music is making waves once more in the UK charts. Her second album Back to Black is currently at number one and debut album Frank is number five.
Five of her singles are in the Top 40, including Rehab, the song about the singer refusing to be treated for her addictions after releasing her first album, which entered the charts at number 29.