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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 17, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nature Boy

The song of the day for Monday, March 18, 2019, is “Nature Boy.”

About This Song

“Nature Boy” was written in 1947 by eden ahbez, the name adopted by George Alexander Aberle, who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908. In the 1930s, he lived in Kansas City and worked as a pianist and band leader. In the early 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles and began playing piano in a health food and raw food store run by John and Vera Richter, who followed a Naturmensch and Lebensreform philosophy influenced by the Wandervogel movement in Germany. In following their philosophy, he and other followers grew their hair long, became vegetarians and were, for all practical purposes, the earliest hippies. They called themselves The Nature Boys.

At the suggestion of Johnny Mercer, eden ahbez approached Nat King Cole with his song “Nature Boy.” Unable to meet with Nat Cole personally, he left the song with Cole’s valet. Cole began to perform the song in his concerts; in 1947 he recorded it for Capitol Records, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol, who used strings and flute in his orchestration. The song was a big hit for Nat Cole and Capitol Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Nature Boy” in 2014 for their album Cheek to Cheek.

Nature Boy

Nature Boy, a song by Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga on Spotify

“Nature Boy,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, eden ahbez, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett

October 8, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nature Boy

The song of the day for Monday, October 9, 2014 is “Nature Boy.”

About This Song

“Nature Boy” was written in 1947 by eden ahbez, the name adopted by George Alexander Aberle, who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908. In the 1930s, he lived in Kansas City and worked as a pianist and band leader. In the early 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles and began playing piano in a health food and raw food store run by John and Vera Richter, who followed a Naturmensch and Lebensreform philosophy influenced by the Wandervogel movement in Germany. In following their philosophy, he and other followers grew their hair long, became vegetarians and were, for all practical purposes, the earliest hippies. They called themselves The Nature Boys.At the suggestion of Johnny Mercer, eden ahbez approached Nat King Cole with his song “Nature Boy.” Unable to meet with Nat Cole personally, he left the song with Cole’s valet. Cole began to perform the song in his concerts; in 1947 he recorded it for Capitol Records, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol, who used strings and flute in his orchestration. The song was a big hit for Nat Cole and Capitol Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Nature Boy” for their 2014 album Cheek to Cheek.

Nature Boy

Listen to Nature Boy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.


“Nature Boy,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, eden ahbez, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett

January 14, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nature Boy

The song of the day for Saturday, January 14, 2017 is “Nature Boy.”

About This Song

“Nature Boy” was written in 1947 by eden ahbez, the name adopted by George Alexander Aberle, who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908. In the 1930s, he lived in Kansas City and worked as a pianist and band leader. In the early 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles and began playing piano in a health food and raw food store run by John and Vera Richter, who followed a Naturmensch and Lebensreform philosophy influenced by the Wandervogel movement in Germany. In following their philosophy, he and other followers grew their hair long, became vegetarians and were, for all practical purposes, the earliest hippies. They called themselves The Nature Boys.

At the suggestion of Johnny Mercer, eden ahbez approached Nat King Cole with his song “Nature Boy.” Unable to meet with Nat Cole personally, he left the song with Cole’s valet. Cole began to perform the song in his concerts; in 1947 he recorded it for Capitol Records, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol, who used strings and flute in his orchestration. The song was a big hit for Nat Cole and Capitol Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Nature Boy” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek.

Nature Boy

Listen to Nature Boy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.


” Nature Boy,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a video today. What I do have are several recordings of today’s song from other artists:

First, of course, Nat “King” Cole:

And Etta Jones:

And finally, Miles Davis:

Happy Saturday, everyone.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, eden ahbez, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett

January 30, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nature Boy

The song of the day for Saturday, January 30, 2016 is “Nature Boy.”

About This Song

“Nature Boy” was written in 1947 by eden ahbez, the name adopted by George Alexander Aberle, who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908. In the 1930s, he lived in Kansas City and worked as a pianist and band leader. In the early 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles and began playing piano in a health food and raw food store run by John and Vera Richter, who followed a Naturmensch and Lebensreform philosophy influenced by the Wandervogel movement in Germany. In following their philosophy, he and other followers grew their hair long, became vegetarians and were, for all practical purposes, the earliest hippies. They called themselves The Nature Boys.At the suggestion of Johnny Mercer, eden ahbez approached Nat King Cole with his song “Nature Boy.” Unable to meet with Nat Cole personally, he left the song with Cole’s valet. Cole began to perform the song in his concerts; in 1947 he recorded it for Capitol Records, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol, who used strings and flute in his orchestration. The song was a big hit for Nat Cole and Capitol Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga made a lovely recording of “Nature Boy” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek.

I’ve been reading a lot (well, all) of Ross Macdonald novels in the past few months, most of them set in Southern California. In several of those books, there are characters who remind me of this song, for better or for worse. I’m sure he ran into one or more nature boys on the west coast as he was plotting those wonderful mysteries.

Just remember: the greatest thing is to love and be loved in return.

Nature Boy

Listen to Nature Boy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.


“Nature Boy,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, we have a short snippet of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga singing today’s song from their PBS special.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, eden ahbez

April 26, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nature Boy

The song of the day for Sunday, April 26, 2015 is “Nature Boy.”

About This Song

“Nature Boy” was written in 1947 by eden ahbez, the name adopted by George Alexander Aberle, who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1908. In the 1930s, he lived in Kansas City and worked as a pianist and band leader. In the early 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles and began playing piano in a health food and raw food store run by John and Vera Richter, who followed a Naturmensch and Lebensreform philosophy influenced by the Wandervogel movement in Germany. In following their philosophy, he and other followers grew their hair long, became vegetarians and were, for all practical purposes, the earliest hippies. They called themselves The Nature Boys. At the suggestion of Johnny Mercer, eden ahbez approached Nat King Cole with his song “Nature Boy.” Unable to meet with Nat Cole personally, he left the song with Cole’s valet. Cole began to perform the song in his concerts; in 1947 he recorded it for Capitol Records, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol, who used strings and flute in his orchestration. The song was a big hit for Nat Cole and Capitol Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga included this wonderful song on they 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. The recording features Tom Ranier on piano and Raul Horn on flute.

About Today

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga are appearing this evening at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on the Gentilly Stage. They will be performing at many jazz festivals this spring and summer.

Nature Boy

Listen to Nature Boy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.


“Nature Boy,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, eden ahbez, Lady Gaga

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