Crooner Tony Bennett is to duet with Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Bono on a new album to mark his 80th birthday.

George Michael, Sting and Mary J Blige will also appear on the record, along with Barbra Streisand and John Legend.

The world's biggest recording artists are queuing up to duet with the US singer, best known for his hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco".

Bennett turns 80 in August 2006 and the album will be released the following month. Hollywood star Clint Eastwood has directed a forthcoming documentary about the star's career. The crooner has been a chart fixture since the 1950s.

Bennett has signed a lucrative deal with record giant Sony BMG, which described the singer as "one of the most legendary performers of all time". His most recent recording, The Art Of Romance, won a Grammy last month for best traditional pop vocal album.

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