The song of the day for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Billie Holiday on the anniversary of her birth on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Munday, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

On June 12, 1945, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra came to Capitol Records to record some songs for an album. Johnny Mercer, who had recently co-founded the studio, learned that Trummy Young, who had brought his girlfriend Billie Holiday with his to the studio, and Jimmy Munday had written a new song. Mercer quickly wrote the lyrics to the song and got Whiteman to record it with Billie Holiday. She was credited as Lady Day on the recording as she was under contract with another studio.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in June 1996 for Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Tony Bennett On Holiday won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett on Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

And, of course, we have the Paul Whiteman and Lady Day recording of “Trav’lin’ Light.”