The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Child Is Born

The song of the day for Thursday, December 25, 2025, the 12th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas is “A Child Is Born.”

About This Song

“A Child Is Born” was written in 1969 by Thad Jones and Alec Wilder. Thad Jones was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra starting in 1954. He left the orchestra in 1963 to pursue a career as an arranger and studio trumpet player and later moved to Denmark. “A Child Is Born” is his best known composition; the wonderful lyrics are by Alec Wilder.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “A Child Is Born” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“A Child Is Born,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Christmas Medley

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the 11th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is a Christmas medley.

About This Song

The Christmas medley contains these songs:

Name Composers / Notes
We Wish You a Merry Christmas Traditional 16th-century English carol
Silent Night Music: Franz Xavier Gruber; Lyrics: Joseph Mohr (1818)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) Traditional; 13th-century
Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont (1857)
Where Is Love Lionel Bart (from the musical Oliver, 1968)

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this Christmas medley in October 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement.

The Christmas medley, as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: A Christmas Love Song

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the 10th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “A Christmas Love Song.”

About This Song

“A Christmas Love Song” was composed in 1988 by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It’s one of the most beautiful of recently written Christmas songs. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, it has been performed by many jazz and popular singers, including The Manhattan Transfer, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “A Christmas Love Song” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

“A Christmas Love Song,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

The song of the day for Sunday, Decmber 21, 2025, The 8th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Sometimes known by its first line ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” this song was written on a very hot summer day and Tormé and Wells were trying to think cold yuletide thoughts in an effort to cool off. The entire song was written forty minutes and is one of America’s most classic Christmas songs. The first recording was by Nat King Cole in 1946.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Christmas Song” in June 1967 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, released in 1968. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“The Christmas Song,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Nat Cole’s 1946 recording of “The Christmas Song.”

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Song of the Day: The Christmas Waltz

The song of the day for Saturday, December 20, 2025, the 7th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Christmas Waltz.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Waltz” was written in 1954 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn for Frank Sinatra. It was recorded by Sinatra in 1954 used on the B-side of new recording of “White Christmas.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “The Christmas Waltz” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

“The Christmas Waltz,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.