Song of the Day: Where Do You Start?

The song of the day for Sunday, November 23, 2014 is “Where Do You Start?”

About This Song

Today’s song was composed by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman in 1987. This song has had many beautiful recordings, including those by Nancy Lamott, Shirley Horn, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Annie Ross and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Where Do You Start?” in 2004 for the album The Art of Romance. The song was arranged and conducted by the composer, Johnny Mandel.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Johnny Mandel, the composer of today’s song, a very happy birthday. Mr. Mandel was born on November 23, 1925 in New York City. His father was a garment manufacturer and his mother was an opera singer who discovered, when young Johnny was only five, that he had perfect pitch. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard. A trombone player, he soon found work with various big bands, including those led by Jimmy Dorsey, Buddy Rich, and Count Basie.

Mandel began writing songs in the late 1940s, at first for bands but soon for movies and television. His list of credits is long and distinguished. Some of his best-known songs include “Suicide is Painless” (from MASH), “Emily” and “The Shadow of Your Smile” from The Sandpiper.

Johnny Mandel first worked with Tony Bennett on his 1966 The Movie Song Album, which included several songs composed by Mandel. He also arranged the 2004 The Art of Romance, from which today’s song comes.

He has won many awards including five Grammy Awards, three Emmy awards, one Oscar and two Golden Globe awards. He was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2011.

Happy Birthday, Johnny Mandel. Thanks for all the wonderful music!