The song of the day for Wednesday, May 28, 2025, is “Make Someone Happy.”
About This Song
“Make Someone Happy” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, for the 1960 Broadway musical Do Re Mi. The show concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangster pals. “Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Make Someone Happy” on August 28, 1962, at the request of President John F. Kennedy to honor that year’s presidential scholars. The concert was originally to held in the Rose Garden at the White House, it was moved to the Mall near the Washington Monument due to so many people wanting to attend.
The first part of the concert was The Dave Brubeck Quartet; the second part was Tony Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. The third part was an improv session with Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright (bass), and Joe Morello on drums.
The concert was recorded by Frank Laico from Columbia Records. “That Old Black Magic,” from the improv set was included on the 1971 album Dave Brubeck: Summit Sessions. The original tapes were long thought lost and were only discovered in 2012, soon after Brubeck’s death (they turned up in the classical music archives). The album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, was released twelve years ago on May 28, 2013.
“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.