14 DAY TRIAL // We have lost so many amazing artists, two of them in less than a year, that it's time to learn a valuable lesson from such a massive loss. Speaking at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party, Tony Bennett has asked for the legalization of drugs.
In the wake of Whitney Houston's death, who is believed to have fallen asleep in her bathroom after a possible fatal combination of drugs and alcohol, Bennett says drugs should be legalized.
Amsterdam is the perfect example of how this should happen, the legendary singer believes, as cited by The Hollywood Reporter.
By legalizing drugs, there would be much more control over substances, thus preventing ODs because they would be handed out by a personal physician, he thinks.
“First it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now the magnificent Whitney Houston. I'd like every person in this room to campaign to legalize drugs,” Bennett told guests at Davis' annual pre-Grammy party, which was dedicated to Whitney, who had died just hours before.
“Let's legalize drugs like they did in Amsterdam. No one's hiding or sneaking around corners to get it. They go to a doctor to get it,” Bennett added.
He also spoke of Whitney in the most positive terms possible, saying she was truly one of the greatest voices ever to come into the spotlight.
“I'd like to dedicate [my song] to Whitney,” he said before performing “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”
“When I first heard her, I called Clive Davis and said, 'You finally found the greatest singer I've ever heard in my life',” he added.
Clive Davis, Whitney's mentor and good friend, as well as the person who discovered and made her a star, also spoke at the event, saying there were no words to explain the terrible loss he'd suffered.
Later on, at the Grammys, Bennett won an award for Best Performance by a Pop Duo or Group for his duet “Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse.
Her parents took to the stage with him to accept it, and pointed out that “she should have been here, not us,” as we also informed you yesterday.
They also tried to raise awareness for the charity they set up in her name, which aims to help young people dealing with the same problems that killed her.