The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The song of the day for December 15, 2022, the second day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. The song had a spectacular debut. The song was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in 2004 and released it in 2008 for A Swingin’ Christmas. It was arranged by Bill Holman and features Andy Snitzer on alto sax. The album features The Count Basie Big Band.

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Snowfall

The song of the day for December 14, 2021, the first day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Snowfall.”

About This Song

“Snowfall” was written in 1941 by Claude and Ruth Thornhill. It’s an unusual song: it’s a cool jazz song, though written in 1941, long before there was such as thing as cool jazz. It’s an evocative and moody song, though quite beautiful.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Snowfall” on October 1, 1968, for the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. It was arranged by Robert Farnon.

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

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Christmas is Coming

The Twelve Days of Tony Bennett Christmas begins just after midnight on December 14, 2022, on The Year of Tony Bennett. This site is 10 years old and this is our 10th celebration of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

We’ll be featuring 12 of Tony Bennett’s greatest songs of the season every day for the next 12 days!

Come join us and celebrate the holidays with The Year of Tony Bennett.

CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER — Pictured: Tony Bennett performs during “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” — Photo by: David Giesbrecht/NBC

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Song of the Day: A Child Is Born

The song of the day for Saturday, December 25, 2021, the twelfth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “A Child Is Born.”

About This Song

“A Child Is Born” was written in 1969 by Thad Jones, who played trumpet with The Count Basie Orchestra, and Alec Wilder. Jones, whose younger brother, Elvin, was a noted jazz drummer. 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 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1968.

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

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Song of the Day: O Christmas Tree

The song of the day for Friday, December 24, 2021, the eleventh day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “O Christmas Tree.”

About This Song

Also known as “O Tannenbaum,” this song is based on a 16th-century German folk song. Originally, the lyric was not specifically about Christmas, but about the “evergreen” qualities of the fir tree and dealt with faithless love.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “O Christmas Tree” for his 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas. The lovely arrangement is by Lee Musiker; Monty Alexander plays piano, beautifully.

“O Christmas Tree,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas is available on Apple Music.