The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me

The song of the day for Saturday, October 11, 2025, is “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me.”

About This Song

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” was written in 1938 by Rube Bloom and Ted Koehler for the World’s Fair edition of the Cotton Club show in 1939. Significant recordings include those by Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, and Count Basie with Joe Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” on April 4, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted.

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

I found a couple of different versions of “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” you might enjoy.

Count Basie and Joe Williams from Basie’s 1957 album One O’Clock Jump:

Joni Mitchell from her 2000 album Both Sides Now:

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Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun?

The song of the day for Thursday. September 11, 2025, is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?.”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. George White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and his Orchestra, recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” on January 5, 1959, for Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Until I Met You

The song of the day for Sunday, August 31, 2025, is “Until I Met You.”

About This Song

“Until I Met You” was written in 1956 by Freddie Green and Don Wolf; the tune, without the lyric, is known as “Corner Pocket.” Freddie Green played rhythm guitar for the Count Basie Orchestra for fifty years. Count Basie did the first recording of “Corner Pocket” in 1956 for his album April In Paris. Basie recorded “Until I Met You” with Sarah Vaughan in 1961 on Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Until I Met You” on March 16, 1962, for the album On The Glory Road, which was pulled from release at the last minute. The album was included in the 2011 Complete Collection box set and is now available on music streaming services. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Until I Met You,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Basie’s 1956 recording of “Corner Pocket” from April In Paris:

And here are Basie and Sarah Vaughan from Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan:

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Thursday, August 14, 2025, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

A Belated Birthday

We’re remembering the late Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922. Normally, we remember Tony Bennett’s collaborators on their birth date, but because July 21 also marked our remembrance of Tony Bennett on the anniversary of his passing, we skipped Kay Starr.

Kay Starr was a remarkable singer who sang songs in several genres: jazz, pop, blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll. Jazz was her primary calling. Her first professional job occurred when she was discovered by jazz violinist Joe Venuti when Starr was only 15 years old. Venuti was playing at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN, for the summer. Her parents allowed her to perform, as long as she was home by midnight. After she graduated from high school, she moved to Los Angeles to work with Joe Venuti.

You can learn more about Kay Starr on Wikipedia and All About Jazz.com.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, and Mack David. Recordings of the song include those by The King Cole Trio, The Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Catherine Russell.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

As a special treat, we’re including Kay Starr’s 1952 recording of “Wheel of Fortune,” which was a smash hit and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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Song of the Day: Lost in the Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 6, 2025, is “Lost in the Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1949 musical Lost in the Stars. The musical was based on Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton (I was assigned to read this book as a ninth grader in Birmingham, Alabama, during the 1960s; somehow, I doubt this book is being assigned to many students in Alabama these days). The book and the musical were set in South Africa during the height of apartheid. The plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lost in the Stars” on December 22, 1958, for the album In Person!, released in 1959, and recorded with Count Basie and His Band. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Lost in the Stars” as well as In Person is available on Apple Music.