The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Wednesday, Mar25, 2020, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About Today

Today, the Year of Tony Bennett is proud to honor the late Aretha Franklin on the anniversary of her birth on March 25, 1942. *-

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman. This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman).

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” in 2011 for Duets II.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

We are happy to present the video on Tony and Aretha recording today’s song.

Watch that little tear from Tony at the end of the song. Beautiful!

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep the Music Playing

The song of the day for Monday, March 25, 2019, is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About This Song

This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The song was composed by Michel Legrand and the lyrics are by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in 2011 for Bennett’s album Duets II. It was arranged by Jorge Calendrelli.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

How Do You Keep The Music Playing, a song by Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin on Spotify

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

We’ve also got the video that Tony made with Aretha …

How Do You Keep The Music Playing (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Music video by Tony Bennett & Aretha Franklin performing How Do You Keep The Music Playing. (C) 2012 Columbia Records, a divison of Sony Music Entertainment

About Today

Today we are remembering the great Aretha Franklin, who was born on March 25, 1942 in Detroit Michigan. Her father was a preacher and she grew up singing gospel music in the church. Miss Franklin released her first secular album in 1961 and her last album, A Brand New Me, in 2017.

Aretha Franklin died at home in Detroit on August 16, 2018, at the age of 76. Her homegoing ceremony was held on August 31, 2018 and was televised live (your author streamed it over her cell phone while at work; it was amazing). She was buried in a pair of five-inch heels, custom-made by Christian Louboutin.

Miss Franklin appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, when Carole King was honored. Miss Franklin sang “Natural Woman,” written for Aretha by Carole King. It’s one of greatest performances I’ve ever seen.

Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Kennedy Center Honors 2015

Full segment of Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Kennedy Center Honors 2015. Chilina Kennedy, plays Carole King in Beautiful, the musical, introduces Aretha.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep the Music Playing

The song of the day for Saturday, October 28, 2017 is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in 1986 for The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? – 2011 Remaster

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, we have the wonderful duet of today’s song with Tony and Aretha Franklin, as the recorded this song in Detroit for Duets II.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Saturday, June 17, 2017 is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was written for the movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Tony Bennett’s first recording of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” from his 1986 album The Art of Excellence. And an excellent album it was!

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? – 2011 Remaster

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, I’m happy to feature one of Bennett’s greatest duet performances. Tony and Aretha Franklin sing “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

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By Request: How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

I had a request for this song today. It’s the birthday of one of our most faithful readers, Aida, from the Russian Tony Bennett Fan Club. Here’s a link to their site, if you’re interested. “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” is one of Aida’s favorite songs, and one of mine as well. I’m more than happy to fulfill the request to talk about this song.

It was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the film Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. I love the music of Michel Legrand and absolutely adore the lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman. (Ten seconds into “The Way We Were” sung by Barbara Streisand and I’m crying my eyes out. It’s a Pavlovian response at this point).

The first recording of this song was a duet by James Ingram and Patti Austin.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

How Do You Keep The Music Playing, a song by James Ingram, Patti Austin on Spotify

Tony Bennett first recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” in 1986 for his album The Art of Excellence.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? – 2011 Remaster

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

But how did Tony come to record this song in the first place? He tells the story in his autobiography The Good Life, while discussing the album The Art of Excellence:

I included a song on that album called “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, which I had first heard Sinatra sing. One night I went to see Frank perform at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.I know no idea he knew I was there, but right after he finished singing the song, he said to me, in full view of thousands of people, ‘Tony! You should sing this song!’ How could I refuse?

I’ve heard him sing this song in concert and it completely blew me away. But the performance that really blew me away was the duet he did with Aretha Franklin for Duets II. Sheer, wonderful perfection.

I dare you to see that tear in Bennett’s eye at the end of the song, followed by his glorious smile, and not be moved.

Happy Birthday, Aida!

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