The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, September 1, 2022, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters constantly gave Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, I Left My Heart in San Francisco was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang this version of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” live on August 28, 1962, at a concert hosted by President Kennedy’s White House held at the Washington Monument. The concert, with Bennett and his trio and Dave Brubeck and his quartet, was released in 2013 on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962. Bennett’s trio consisted of Ralph Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Monday, August 22, 2022, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Trio (Brubeck on piano, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums) recorded “That Old Black Magic” on August 28, 1962, at the invitation of President John F. Kennedy for a celebration of that year’s interns. The concert was held near the Washington Monument. The recording of that concert, which featured Bennett and his trio as well as the Dave Brubeck Quartet, was thought lost. Thankfully, it was found in the vaults, misplaced in the classical section. In 2013, the full concert was released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Friday, January 7, 2022, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 for the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm first recorded by Glenn Miller. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

In August 1962, Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited to perform for White House interns by President John Kennedy. After each artist played their separate set, Bennett and Dave Brubeck Quartet (minus Paul Desmond), returned to the stage for an improv session, including this wonderful version of “That Old Black Magic.” The concert was taped, but the tape was lost for many years in the Columbia/Sony vaults. The tape was located (misfiled in the classical music section) and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 in 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, November 18, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

Today we are remembering the great Johnny Mercer, who wrote the lyrics to today’s song, who was born in Savannah, Georgia on November 18, 1909. You can read more about Mercer and his accomplishments at the website for The Johnny Mercer Foundation which supports songwriting and songwriters as well as several educational initiatives.

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 for the movie Star Spangled Rhythm and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Trio recorded “That Old Black Magic” in an improv session after each artist had completed their performances at this concert. In addition to Brubeck on piano, the trio featured Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums. The concert was taped and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 in 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Sunday, September 5, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was also used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

The penultimate song in the Bennett/Brubeck improv set was “That Old Black Magic” and is, for me anyway, the highlight of the concert. It’s as good a Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer song as there is; Bennett sounds fantastic; and Dave Brubeck is just superb. Fortunately for us, we can listen to it as often as we wish on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Fans of Tony Bennett know well of his anti-racists beliefs. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in the third Selma March in 1965. Dave Brubeck was a pioneer in the Civil Rights movement in 1960, when he added the African-American bassist, Eugene Wright, to his quartet. On a 1960 tour, 22 colleges in the American South refused to allow Brubeck to perform with an African-American on the stage. Brubeck was encouraged to replace Wright with a white bassist, but he refused, forgoing considerable income from the tour (approximately $400,000 in today’s money). You can read more about Brubeck’s actions here. We should all be grateful for the jazz musicians who stood up to racism and integrated their bands.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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