The song of the day for Thursday, November 18, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”
About Today
Today we are remembering the great Johnny Mercer, who wrote the lyrics to today’s song, who was born in Savannah, Georgia on November 18, 1909. You can read more about Mercer and his accomplishments at the website for The Johnny Mercer Foundation which supports songwriting and songwriters as well as several educational initiatives.
About This Song
One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 for the movie Star Spangled Rhythm and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.
About This Version
Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Trio recorded “That Old Black Magic” in an improv session after each artist had completed their performances at this concert. In addition to Brubeck on piano, the trio featured Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums. The concert was taped and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 in 2013.
“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.
Please feel free to leave a comment