The song of the day for Wednesday, June 30, 2021, is “De Glory Road.”

About Today

Today’s marks the end of our deep dive into Tony Bennett’s legendary concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962. It’s been a pleasure to explore these songs so deeply — I hope you’ve enjoyed it as well.

About This Song

“De Glory Road” was written in 1928, with music by Jacques Wolfe and lyrics by Clement Wood. De Glory Road began as a poem written by a white, socialist, native Alabamian lawyer and writer named Clement Wood, who published the poem in 1928. Wood is also the author of the Clement Wood Rhyming Dictionary, the 1939 edition of which is Stephen Sondheim’s preferred rhyming dictionary.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “De Glory Road” in March 1962 for the album On The Glory Road; however, the release of that album was canceled at the very last minute. Bennett decided to close out his Carnegie Hall concert with this song and invited percussionist Candido to play on this song.

In his autobiography The Good Life, Bennett relates his choice of “De Glory Road” to close the concert.

I needed something really special to close with. I’d start out with old favorites, but I wanted to end with something that nobody had ever heard me sing before, something unexpected. Tony Tamburello suggested the spiritual “Glory Road.” Candido added to the success of “Glory Road” by playing a wonderful solo in the middle of it that drove the crowd wild.

“De Glory Road,” as well as the other songs Tony Bennett sang are captured on Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall.

“De Glory Road,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall is available on Apple Music.