The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

On the Third Day of Tony Bennett Christmas, Sunday, December 16, 2012, the song of the day is I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.

Tony Bennett painting for the American Cancer Society Christmas Card for 2010
Tony Bennett painting for the American Cancer Society Christmas Card for 2010

About I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Not technically a Christmas song, this delightful song by Irving Berlin is a holiday favorite. It was written in 1937 and introduced in the film On The Avenue by Dick Powell and Alice Faye. It’s had many notable recordings from singers including Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Another notable recording is the version by Billie Holiday, which I heard the other morning at Starbucks; it completely blew me away.

About This Version

Today’s version is the duet of the song with his daughter, Antonia Bennett, from the 2008 Swingin’ Christmas with the Count Basie Big Band.  We are big fans of Antonia Bennett, having seen her perform with her father at his concerts. Tony Bennett also recorded the same song as a medley with Winter Weather, on the 1968 Snowfall album.

I"ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (feat. Count Basie Big Band)

Listen to I"ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (feat. Count Basie Big Band) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Count Basie Big Band · 2008

I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, as well as the full Swingin’ Christmas with the Count Basie Big Band, is available on iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Antonia

The Song of the Day for is Antonia.

About Antonia

Antonia was written, at the request of Tony Bennett, by Bob Wells and Segal, who had also written When Joanna Loved Me, thus honoring both of his daughters with beautiful songs.

About This Version

By the time you see this post, we’ll have seen Tony Bennett perform at both the Monterey Jazz Festival and in San Diego. We certainly hope to see his daughter, Antonia, perform in San Diego. She’s a wonderful singer and does an incredible job of opening for her Dad.

This recording is from the 1990 Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, which is a favorite at the Year of Tony Bennett.

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Antonia Bennett

It can’t be easy to be the child of a legend and to follow in his footsteps. But Antonia Bennett has done just that and stands as a very gifted artist and singer on her own. She often tours with her father and is currently touring with him this summer in Europe. The Year of Tony Bennett has had the pleasure of hearing her several times and look forward to hearing her open for her father at each concert. We especially enjoy hearing them sing a favorite Stephen Sondheim song from Merrily We Roll Along: Old Friends.

She is a serious student of music and studied at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston. She’s a gifted performer and we look forward to hearing her for a long time to come.

We are currently listening to her EP album Natural, a collection of jazz standards, and are enjoying it very much. Natural was released by Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings and is available at Amazon and on iTunes.

For more information about Antonia Bennett, visit her website at www.antoniabennett.com.

Some interviews and recording links: