• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Videos
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 23, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: A Christmas Love Song

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the 10th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “A Christmas Love Song.”

About This Song

“A Christmas Love Song” was composed in 1988 by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It’s one of the most beautiful of recently written Christmas songs. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, it has been performed by many jazz and popular singers, including The Manhattan Transfer, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “A Christmas Love Song” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

“A Christmas Love Song,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Alan Bergman, Johnny Mandel, Marilyn Bergman, Tony Bennett

December 22, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Monday, December 22, 2025, the 9th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

A Personal Note

First of all, Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from The Year of Tony Bennett. Today’s song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” is my favorite Christmas song of them all. The first time I heard Judy Garland sing it, I was awestruck and get that exact same feeling every time I listen to it. And then there’s Hugh Martin. who was from Birmingham, Alabama, where I grew up. We both went to the same college (Birmingham-Southern College). I even got to meet him once; he would visit the music department when he visited Birmingham and I was briefly introduced to him. (Arranger Marion Evans also went to Birmingham-Southern; Evans worked with Tony Bennett on several albums.)

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin for the 1944 film for Meet Me In St. Louis, where it was introduced by Judy Garland, who sang it to Margaret O’Brien (who won a special Academy Juvenile Award for her performance).

In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Judy Garland’s extraordinary performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from the film Meet Me in St. Louis.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Hugh Martlin, Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis, The Count Basie Big Band, Tony Bennett

December 20, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Christmas Waltz

The song of the day for Saturday, December 20, 2025, the 7th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Christmas Waltz.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Waltz” was written in 1954 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn for Frank Sinatra. It was recorded by Sinatra in 1954 used on the B-side of new recording of “White Christmas.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “The Christmas Waltz” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

“The Christmas Waltz,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Jule Styne, Samy Cahn, The Count Basie Big Band, Tony Bennett

December 18, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: O Christmas Tree

The song of the day for Thursday December 18, 2025, the 5th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “O Christmas Tree.”

About This Song

“O Christmas Tree,” also known a “O Tannenbaum,” is based on a 16th century German folk song. The
German lyrics were written in 1824. Originally, the lyric was not specifically about Christmas, but about the “evergreen” qualities of the fir tree and dealt with faithless love.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “O Christmas Tree” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008. Lee Musiker wrote the arrangement and played piano for the recording.

“O Christmas Tree,” as well as AW Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Lee Musiker, O Tannenbaum, The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tony Bennett

December 17, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Silver Bells

The song of the day for December 17, 2025, the 4th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Silver Bells,”

About This Song

“Silver Bells” was written in 1950 by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. The song was originally called “Tinkle Bells.” That is, until composer Jay Livingston told his wife about the new song and she reminded him that the word ‘tinkle’ had another meaning and so it was changed to “Silver Bells.” It was first recorded in 1950 by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards and was also used in the 1951 movie The Lemon Drop Kid with Bob Hope, who performed the song with Marilyn Maxwell.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Silver Bells” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008. The album featured The Count Basie Orchestra. Lee Musiker wrote the arrangement

“Silver Bells,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

We have a video of Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Orchestra, singing “Silver Bells, from 2004.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, The 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Jay Livingston, Lee Musiker, Ray Evans, Tony Bennett

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 15
  • Next Page »
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Videos
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2026 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress