The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’m Coming Virginia

The song of the day for Sunday, Mary 5, 2024, is “I’m Coming, Virginia.”

About This Song

“I’m Coming, Virginia” was written in 1926 by Donald Heywood and Will Marion Cook. The song was recorded by many of the great jazz performers: Ethel Waters, Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and Ruby Braff. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song that it is “an unusual and a very good song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Coming, Virginia” on April 4, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“I’m Coming Virginia,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

I found a lot of great recordings of this song by other artists, but this one from Bunny Berigan caught my fancy:

And then there’s this one by Jimmy Rushing and The Count Basie Orchestra:

Finally, Sidney Bechet and his New Orleans Feetwarmers:

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Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

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Song of the Day: I’m Comin’ Virginia

The song of the day for Sunday, August 8, 2021, is “I’m Comin’ Virginia.”

About This Song

“I’m Comin’ Virginia” was written in 1926 by Donald Heywood and Will Marion Cook. It’s been recorded by many of the great jazz performers: Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and Ruby Braff. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song notes that it is “.. an unusual and a very good song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Comin’ Virginia” in 1961 for the album My Heart Sings. It was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns.

I"m Coming Virginia

No Description

“I’m Comin’ Virginia,” as well as My Heart Sings is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Comin’ Virginia

The song of the day for Saturday, March 13, 2021, is “I’m Comin’ Virginia.”

About This Song

“I’m Comin’ Virginia” was written in 1926 by Donald Heywood, with lyrics by Will Marion Cook. It was recorded by many of the great jazz performers: Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and Ruby Braff. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song that it is “.. an unusual and a very good song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Comin’ Virginia” for his 1961 album My Heart Sings. It features a great arrangement by Ralph Burns.

I"m Coming Virginia

Listen to I"m Coming Virginia on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“I’m Comin’ Virginia,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Coming Virginia

The song of the day for Friday, June 16, 2017 is “I’m Coming Virginia.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I’m Coming Virginia,” was written in 1926 by Donald Heywood (music) and Will Marion Cook (lyrics). This song has been recorded by many of the great jazz performers: Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and Ruby Braff. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song noted that it is “.. an unusual and a very good song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Coming Virginia” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings. This song, as well as the entire album, was arranged by Ralph Burns.

I"m Coming Virginia

Listen to I"m Coming Virginia on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“I’m Coming Virginia,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

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