The song of the day for Friday, June 8, 2018 is “But Beautiful.”
About This Song
This song was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
About This Version
I love this song and have featured it often and always feature the recording that Tony Bennett made with Bill Evans in 1975 for The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. Today I’m very pleased to feature the very lovely duet of “But Beautiful” that Mr. Bennett made with Lady Gaga in 2014 for their album Cheek to Cheek.
“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.
I know it’s not Saturday, but this video of Tony and Lady Gaga is just too beautiful to pass up.
About Today
I so happy to hear Tony Bennett sing “But Beautiful” Wednesday night at his concert in Portland, with the brilliant guitar work of Gray Sargent. I had the great honor of getting to meet and have conversations with all four members of the quartet: Ton Ranier, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood and Harold Jones. I have so much admiration for the work of this quartet and meeting them was so special. I also got to meet the jazz singer Donna Byrne, who opened for Tony Bennett on Wednesday. She’s a hell of a singer and a warm and nice person. Do check out her website–from the Music link on the menu, you can hear her wonderful voice. I particularly like “He Was Too Good To Me.”
My sincere thanks to Gray, Harold, Tom, Marshall and Donna for their warmth and kindness towards this blogger.
It was a great pleasure meeting you, Suzanne. I hope that our paths cross again! Thank you for your very kind words. Love, Donna
Gray Sargent was born in my hometown of Attleboro, Massachusetts, three years before I was. In my early twenties I saw him play at the Sticky Wicket in Grafton,. My parents, sadly both gone now, we’re huge fans of his and Lou Colombo and Dick Johnson. He’s marvelous. I’ve never seen him live again, unfortunately, but have followed his career. This turn on the magnificent But Beautiful is so lovely. Thanks Gray, Tony, and Gaga for a lovely version of one of my favorite songs.