The song of the day for Thursday, June 12, 2025, is “Waltz For Debby.”

About This Song

“Waltz For Debby” was written by Bill Evans in 1953, while still serving in the Army.. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees added later, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz For Debby” at their three-day recording session, June 10-13, 1975, for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Waltz For Debby, ” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

We have the live recording of “Waltz For Debby” from the Bill Evans Trio’s sessions at the Village Vanguard in June 1961, with Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. LaFaro was killed in an automobile accident just a month later, on July 6, 1961; he was only 25 years old. His death devastated Evans, who did not perform or record until October 1961. In spite of his tragically short career, Scott LaFaro was ranked 16th on Bass Player’s Magazine list of the top 100 bassists of all time.