The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Thursday, May 27, 2021, is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling At Trouble” was written in 1924 by Lewis Gensler, with lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Keep Smiling At Trouble” in 1967 for his album For Once In My Life. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble)

Listen to Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1967.

“Keep Smiling At Trouble,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling at Trouble

The song of the day for Thursday, March 25, 2021, is “Keep Smiling at Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written in 1924 by Lewis Gensler, with lyrics from Buddy DeSylva and Al Jolson. The song was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett performed “Keep Smiling at Trouble” live at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas on April 8, 1964. The show was recorded, but the album Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On was released until 2011 as part of the Complete Collection box set.

Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble"s a Bubble) - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble"s a Bubble) - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“Keep Smiling at Trouble,” as well as Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Keep Smiling at Trouble

The song of the day for Saturday, March 28, 2020, is “Keep Smiling at Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written in 1924 by Lewis Gensler, with lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded his show at The Sahara in Las Vegas in April 1964, including “Keep Smiling at Trouble.” The show was released in 2011 as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964.

“Keep Smiling at Trouble,” as well as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Look For the Silver Lining

The song of the day for Friday, January 31, 2020, is “Look For the Silver Lining.”

About This Song

“Look For the Silver Lining” was written in 1919 by Jerome Kern and B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva for. the unsuccessful musical Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920 it was published and reused in the musical Sally where it was popularized by Marilyn Miller. The song remains popular to this day and has been sung by many artists.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Look For the Silver Lining,” accompanied by Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes (both on piano), for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

“Look For the Silver Lining,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling at Trouble

The song of the day for Monday, October 14, 2019, is “Keep Smiling at Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written in 1924, with music by Lewis Gensler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

Fun Fact: the blender was invented in 1932 by Stephen Poplawski. Bandleader Fred Waring was a financial supporter for the first blender. In the next few years he made his own improvements to the blade and named his product the Waring Blender. The Waring Blender is still manufactured today.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Keep Smiling at Trouble” in 1967 for the album For Once In My Life. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“Keep Smiling at Trouble,” as well as For Once in My Life, is available from iTunes.

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