The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Small World

The song of the day for Monday, August 28, 2023, is “Small World.”

About Today

Fifty-five years ago, on August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck performed in a concert honoring that year’s White House interns. The concert got so much attention that it had to moved from The White House Rose Garden to the Mall by the Washington Monument. Dave Brubeck, with his trio, performed first, followed by his trio, and ended up with an improv session with Brubeck, with Joe Morello (drums) and Eugene Wright (bass) from Brubeck’s trio.

Today we’re featuring a song from Bennett’s set, with The Ralph Trio (Sharon on drums, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums). William B. Williams, a DJ on New York’s WNEW introduced Tony Bennett and his trio:

About This Song

“Small World” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, in 1959 for the Broadway musical Gypsy. “Small World” is sung by Rose and Herbie, who has the misfortune to fall in love with Rose. Gypsy is arguably the best musical ever written and has been revived many times on Broadway.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Small World” on August 28, 1962, released on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

The recording of the concert was long thought lost. Thankfully, it was found in the Columbia/Sony Records archive in the Classical section and finally released on May 28, 2013.

“Small World,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962
 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Rags to Riches

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 31, 2021, is “Rags to Riches.”

About This Song

“Rags to Riches” was written in 1953 by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. When Tony Bennett first heard “Rags to Riches,” he hated the song and was forced by Mitch Miller to record it. With a very nice arrangement by Percy Faith, the recording was a huge hit for Bennett and earned him a gold record. Thankfully, Bennett grew to enjoy singing the song. Martin Scorcese used the 1953 recording in the opening of Goodfellas, which helped find a new audience for this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Rags to Riches” at his 1962 concert in Washington, DC. Bennett’s set, are more, were captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Rags To Riches - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Rags To Riches - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013

“Rags to Riches,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 25, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. 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 recorded “That Old Black Magic” in 1962. Today’s version is the most magical: an improv with a Dave Brubeck trio at their appearances at the invitation of President John F. Kennedy to honor the year’s young White House scholars. The tape of the concert was long thought lost, but it was found, misfiled, in the classical music section of the Columbia vaults soon after the death of Brubeck in 2012. It was released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 16, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was also used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. 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

In 1962, Tony Bennett and his trio and The Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President John Kennedy to perform in the White House Rose Garden as a thank you to that year’s Presidential Scholars. There was so much interest in the concert that it was moved to the Mall near the Washington Monument. After each artist played their respective sets, Bennett and Brubeck, along with Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums returned for a short improv set. One of the songs in that set was “That Old Black Magic.” The concert was recorded, but the tapes had been long since lost. Soon after Brubeck’s death in December 2012, the tapes were found in the classical music archives of Sony/Columbia Records. The album Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 was released in April 2013.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Friday, October 2, 2020, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. 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 1962 in Washington DC. Both had been asked to perform at the White House in a concert in honor of that year’s Presidential Scholars. So many people wanted to attend that the concert was moved from the White Grounds to the park area by the Washington Monument. After Bennett and Brubeck did their separate sets, Bennett and Brubeck’s Trio returned for a completely unrehearsed improv session. “That Old Black Magic” was one of the songs they played that night. The concert tapes were thought long-lost, but were discovered in 2012 in the Columbia vaults in the classical music section. 2013 gave us Bennett & Brubeck: White House Sessions, Live 1962. It’s a wonderful album.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from Apple Music.