It’s Tony Bennett 1950s Hit Parade Week! And the song of the day for Wednesday, January 9, 2013 is Rags to Riches.
About Rags to Riches
Many readers will remember this song from the opening credits of Martin Scorcese’s Goodfellas, just after Ray Liotta says “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”
The song was written in 1953 by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Alder and Ross first teamed up in 1950. They had the great fortune to be protégés of noted Broadway composer Frank Loesser. The pair wrote Broadway shows (Pajama Game and Damn Yankees) as well as popular songs during their time together.
Mr. Ross died at the young age of 29 in 1955, ending a partnership that was destined for many more great works. Mr. Adler passed away in June 2012.His obituary can be read at the New York Times.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded Rags to Riches in March 1953; it reached Number One on the Billboard charts that same year. The song has remained a part of Mr. Bennett’s repertoire to this day. It was arranged and conducted by Percy Faith.
Rags to Riches, as well as the full Columbia Singles: Volume 2, is available from iTunes.
Tony quickly got the nickname-TGE RAGS TO RICHES GUY IN BROOKLYN. Under the boardwalk kids always danced to Tony’s great music by pier 15. Tony was the king of the Coney Island sand! Every jukebox blared rags to richesHere comes that heartache again. Illgo ,until yesterday and please driver. Stranger in paradise and once there lived a fool were all played many many times. KING OF BROKEN HEARTS was a huge hit with the guys and girls we hung with under the boardwalk at Pier 15