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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

September 13, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, September 14, 2017 is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it.

Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert, recorded on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. At that time, the song had been released for six months. I love how he introduces it as “a brand-new popular song.” Popular indeed.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · Song · 1962.


“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Douglass Cross, George Cory, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall

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