The song of the day for Thursday, March 16, 2023, is “Manhattan.”
About Today
Today we are celebrating the birth of Ruby Braff, one of the leaders of the quartet that played with Tony Bennett for his recordings of Rodgers and Hart in 1970s. You can read more about Braff, who was born on March 16, 1927, on Wikipedia.
About This Song
“Manhattan” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart in 1925 for the Garrick Gaieties. The song has remained popular up to today and is frequently recorded by jazz and popular singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, “Manhattan” has been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Dinah Washington. It is often used in films, including Silent Movie, Mighty Aphrodite, and The English Patient.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Manhattan” with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet in July 1973. The quartet featured Braff on cornet and trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The first album of the recordings with the quartet was released in 1976 as Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.
“Manhattan,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rogers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.
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