The song of the day for Thursday, August 28, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”
About This Song
“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was popular from the start, with recordings by Glenn Miller and Judy Garland in 1942. The song has been used in films and television, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe, and Star Trek Voyager, where it was sung by Jeri Ryan, portraying Seven of Nine.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live 63 years ago on August 28, 1962. Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had both been invited by President John F. Kennedy to perform at a concert honoring that year’s group of summer interns. Originally, the concert was planned for the Rose Garden at the White House, but due to so much interest, it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on the Mall, near the Washington Monument.
Brubeck with his quartet (Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, Joe Morello on drums) opened the concert. Next was Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, Billy Exiner on drums) who performed. After Bernnett’s set, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett did an unplanned improv set, joined by Eugene Wright and Joe Morello.
The concert was taped, but over time it had become lost in the vaults. They were discovered, misfiled in the Classical Music section, in December 2012, just a few weeks after Dave Brubeck’s death. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was finally released in May 2013.
“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.
Tony Bennett made a short video about the experience.
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