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, March 25, 2026, is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, on the anniversary of her birth on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennesee.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends, starring Burt Reynolds.

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, 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 Duets II. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

We have the official video of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” with Tony Bennett and The Queen of Soul:

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

The song of the day for Monday, July 21, 2025, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was written by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman 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). 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, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” on January 10, 1986, for his album The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was composed by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the 1982 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 Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s wonderful 1986 album The Art of Excellence, which is quite excellent. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


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

About Today

Our video is today’s song as sung by Tony and Aretha Franklin from Duets II.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, February 22, 2014 is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written by Michel Legrand with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was written for a 1982 movie called Best Friends that starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn and was initially recorded as a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram. Frank Sinatra recorded this song in 1984 and encouraged Tony Bennett to record it. It remains a very popular song with popular and cabaret artists.

About This Version

Today’s version is Bennett’s first recording from 1986 for his comeback album The Art of Excellence (and boy, was it excellent). The song was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli, with whom Bennett continues to work.

My co-blogger Lesley and I were just discussing how much we love the songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman because they understand mature love and write eloquently about it. Today’s song is a perfect example.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7FKpxwRQeBorSxzNKOXbbM
“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as the remastered The Art of Excellence album, is available from iTunes.

And as it’s YouTube Saturday, I’m more than happy to have an excuse to, once again, show the video of Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin recording this song for Duets II. Watch the tear towards the end. I dare you to not get a lump in your throat.