The song of the day for Tuesday, May 17, 2016 is “Honeysuckle Rose.”
About This Song
Today’s song, “Honeysuckle Rose,” was composed by Fats Waller in 1929 with lyrics by Andy Razaf. It is one of Fats Waller’s better known tunes and for good reason. The tune is very well written and Razaf’s lyric is delightful. Waller recorded the song in 1934 and that recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The song has been recorded steadily throughout the years, including the one from Lena Horne in 1963.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Honeysuckle Rose” in 1995 for the album Here’s To The Ladies. For this album, Bennett honored great female singers of the 20th century by singing songs that are strongly associated with that singer. “Honeysuckle Rose” is for Lena Horne, who Tony performed with in the early 1970s. I had the great pleasure of seeing Miss Horne in Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music in 1981 on Broadway. I’m so glad I had that chance to see her in person and hear her sing and tell stories about her life and career.
“Honeysuckle Rose,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.
Even though it’s only Tuesday, I have a video for you. It’s Tony and Lena singing a medley of Harold Arlen songs from the early 1970s. Enjoy!
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