The song of the day for Saturday, May 11, 2024, is “Shaking The Blues Away.”

About Today

Today we are honoring one of the great American songwriters, Irving Berlin. He was born on May 11, 1888, in Tolochin, Belarus as Israel Beilin. A school dropout, he was drawn to music and worked as a bar singer and song plugger. He published his first song in 1907, his first step as a songwriter, with his big hit “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” written in 1911. He composed for Broadway and in Hollywood and remained active until 1962, with a Broadway musical Mr. President. He lived a long and full life until his death on September 22, 1989, at the age of 101.

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Shaking The Blues Away” in 1927 for the Ziegfield Follies, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. He later pulled it out of the trunk in 1948 for the film Easter Parade, where it was a dance number for Ann Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Shaking The Blues Away” in May 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin.

“Shaking The Blues Away,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 2, 2024, is “Now It Can Be Told.”

About This Song

“Now It Can Be Told” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1938 film Alexander’s Ragtime Band, where it was introduced by Don Ameche and Alice Faye. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song (it lost to “Thanks For the Memory”), though the score for the film won the Academy Award. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, it has been recorded by Bing Crosby, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Ray Noble Orchestra with Frankie Laine, and Teddy Wilson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Now It Can Be Told” in May 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin, released in 1988. Bennett wrote the arrangement.

“Now It Can Be Told,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.