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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

July 22, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Moonlight in Vermont

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, is “Moonlight in Vermont.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is remembering Margaret Whiting, who was born on July 22, 1924. Her father was songwriter Richard Whiting, who wrote popular songs including “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Ain’t We Got Fun.” Margaret started her career as a band singer and one of her first hits was today’s song “Moonlight in Vermont,” recorded with Billy Butterfield’s Orchestra and which sold over one million copies. In addition to her career as a singer, she was a cabaret master teacher and held the position of Artistic Director of the annual Cabaret and Performance Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford Connecticut from 1989 through 2001.

About This Song

“Moonlight in Vermont” was written in 1944 by Karl Suessdorf and John Blackburn. The song was made famous by Margaret Whiting, who recorded it in 1944 with Billy Butterfield and his Orchestra. It has been popular ever since, with other recordings by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Moonlight in Vermont” in July 1995 for Here’s To The Ladies, which honored the great women singers of the 20th centuries by featuring their most significant recordings, including this for Margaret Whiting. Bill Holman wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Moonlight in Vermont,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s To The Ladies won the 39th Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

Here’s Margaret Whiting’s 1945 recording of “Moonlight in Vermont.”

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Holman, Here's To The Ladies, John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf, Tony Bennett

May 23, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Tangerine

The song of the day for Friday, May 23, 2025, is “Tangerine.”

About Today

We are remembering Helen O’Connell today. She was born on Lima, Ohio on May 23, 1920. She sang on the first recording “Tangerine” with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra in 1942 and is the singer that Bennett paid tribute to his recording of “Tangerine” on Here’s To The Ladies.

About This Song

“Tangerine” was written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer for the movie The Fleet’s In, which starred Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken and introduced Betty Hutton. The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, with vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly, made a very successful recording in 1942.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tangerine” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies. For this album, Bennett included songs associated with the best female singers of the 20th century. Helen O’Connell was the vocalist associated with “Tangerine.” Bill Holman wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Here’s To The Ladies won the 39th Annual Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Tangerine,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1942 recording of “Tangerine” by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with vocalists Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell.

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Holman, Helen O'Connell, Here's To The Ladies, Jimmy Dorsey, Johnny Mercer, The Fleet's In, Tony Bennett, Victor Schertzinger

December 20, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’ll Be Home For Christmas

The song of the day for December 20, 2024, the seventh day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

About This Song

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” was written in 1943 by Walter Kent, with lyrics by Kim Gannon and Buck Ram. Released at the height of World War II, tells the story of a soldier stationed overseas, who yearns to be home with family for Christmas, if only in his dreams. Bing Crosby recorded this song in 1943 and it was a best seller. The War Department issued a V-Disc with Crosby’s versions of this song and “White Christmas” that was sent to soldiers stationed all over the world. One wonders if the young soldier Anthony Benedetto, who was stationed in Germany, might have listened to this v-disc at some point.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” in 2004 for A Swinging Christmas, released in 2008. Bill Holman wrote the arrangement,

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Swingin' Christmas, Bill Holman, Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Tony Bennett, Walter Kent

July 22, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Moonlight in Vermont

The song of the day for Monday, July 22, 2024, is “Moonlight in Vermont.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is remembering Margaret Whiting, who was born one hundred years ago today, on July 22, 1924. Her father was songwriter Richard Whiting, who wrote popular songs including “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Ain’t We Got Fun.” Margaret started her career as a band singer and one of her first hits was today’s song “Moonlight in Vermont,” recorded with Billy Butterfield’s Orchestra and which sold over one million copies. In addition to her career as a singer, she was a cabaret master teacher and held the position of Artistic Director of the annual Cabaret and Performance Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford Connecticut from 1989 through 2001.

About This Song

“Moonlight in Vermont” was written in 1944 by Karl Suessdorf and John Blackburn. It was made famous by Margaret Whiting, who recorded it in 1944 with Billy Butterfield and his Orchestra. It has been popular ever since, with other recordings by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Moonlight in Vermont” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, which honored the great women singers of the 20th centuries by featuring thier most significant recordings. Bill Holman arranged and conducted the recording.

Here’s To The Ladies won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

“Moonlight in Vermont,” as well as , is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Holman, Here's To The Ladies, John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf, Margaret Whiting, Tony Bennett

May 10, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Tangerine

The song of the day for Friday, May 10, 2024, is “Tangerine.”

About This Song

“Tangerine” was written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In, which starred Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken and introduced Betty Hutton. The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, with vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly, made a very successful recording in 1942.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tangerine” in June 1995 for his album Here’s to the Ladies. For his album, he recorded songs made famous by notable women singers in the 20th century; Tangerine was recorded in tribute to Helen O’Connell. It was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman.

“Tangerine,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Holman, Helen O'Connell, Here's To The Ladies, Johnny Mercer, Tony Bennett, Victor Schertzinger

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