The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

Quote of the Day

I felt free enough to start work on Beat of My Heart, the most ambitious jazz project of my career. Ralph and I wanted to make a jazz statement in a big way, and I came up with the idea of recording an album of standards that put the spotlight on different kinds of rhythm by using all the great jazz drummers I could find. We talked the concept over during our first few months on the road, and gradually it all came together. The first recording date was in June 1957, with Chico Hamilton. I was delighted with the results, particularly with the tongue-twisting, super-percussive title track, “The Beat of My Heart.”

Tony Bennett

Song of the Day: The Beat of My Heart

The song of the day for Thursday, September 17, 2025, is “The Beat of My Heart.” About This Song “The Beat of My Heart” (also known as “The Beat o’ My Heart”) was written in 1934 by Harold Spina and Johnny Burke. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Paul Whiteman, Ray Noble, […]

Song of the Day: Makin’ Whoopee!

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, is “Makin’ Whoopee!” About This Song “Makin’ Whoopee!” was written by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn for the 1928 musical Whoopee! produced by Florenz Ziegfeld and starring Eddie Cantor. About This Version Tony Bennett and Cyndi Lauper recorded “Makin’ Whoopee!” in 2003 for Lauper’s album […]

Song of the Day: New York, New York

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, is “New York, New York.” About This Song “New York, New York” was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb for Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film New York, New York, starring Robert DeNiro and Liza Minnelli. About This Version Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra recorded “New […]

Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Monday, September 14, 2026, is “Just Friends.” About This Song “Just Friends” was written in 1931 by John Klenner and Sam M. Lewis as a pop song, but has become a jazz standard for both singers and instrumentalists. It became a hit in 1932 when Russ Columbo recorded it […]