The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Waltz For Debby

The song of the day for Monday, March 16, 2026, is “Waltz For Debby.”

About This Song

“Waltz For Debby” was written by Bill Evans in 1956, soon after leaving the Army. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz For Debby” in June 1975 for The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album.

“Waltz For Debby,” as well as The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

Dear Mr. Bennett

The John Pizzarelli Trio (Pizzarelli on guitar and vocals, Michael Karn on bass, and Isaiah J. Thompson on piano) recorded “Waltz For Debby” for Dear Mr. Bennett, released in March 2026.

Dear Mr. Bennett is available for purchase on CD and vinyl at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tower Records, and other record stores. It is also available on most popular streaming services.

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Song of the Day: The Right To Love

The song of the day for is “The Right To Love.”

About Today

As I was preparing to choose today’s song, I learned the Lalo Schifrin had just died on Wednesday, June 26, 2025. He was 93 years old and died from pneumonia. You can read his biography on his website schifrin.com. You can read obituaries on Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Chicago Tribune, and The Los Angeles Times.

About This Song

“The Right To Love” was written by Lalo Schfrin ca. 1963; the lyrics by Gene Lees were added later. According to the website filmscoremonthly, this song has an interesting history. It was first recorded, without lyrics, in 1963 on an album called Reflections by Stan Getz and Lalo Schifrin. Tony Bennett liked the song from the beginning and suggested that Gene Lees write the lyrics. The resulting song is an anthem for “forbidden” love. At that time, most people associated the song with interracial relationships; in later years, it has been sung by gay singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, this song has been recorded by Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, and k.d. lang.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Right To Love” on February 18, 1965, for If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“The Right To Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Waltz For Debby

The song of the day for Thursday, June 12, 2025, is “Waltz For Debby.”

About This Song

“Waltz For Debby” was written by Bill Evans in 1953, while still serving in the Army.. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees added later, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz For Debby” at their three-day recording session, June 10-13, 1975, for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Waltz For Debby, ” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

We have the live recording of “Waltz For Debby” from the Bill Evans Trio’s sessions at the Village Vanguard in June 1961, with Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. LaFaro was killed in an automobile accident just a month later, on July 6, 1961; he was only 25 years old. His death devastated Evans, who did not perform or record until October 1961. In spite of his tragically short career, Scott LaFaro was ranked 16th on Bass Player’s Magazine list of the top 100 bassists of all time.

Scott LaFaro

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Song of the Day: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 18, 2025, is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”

About This Song

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” known in the original Portuguese as “Corcovado,” was in 1960 by Antonio Carlos Jobim; Gene Lees wrote the English lyrics. The song has a serene quiet feeling–the English title fits the mood of the song perfectly. Both Stan Getz and Miles Davis recorded jazz versions of “Quiet Nights.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” on December 19, 1962, for his album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Right To Love

The song of the day for Monday, January 20, 2025, is “The Right To Love.”

About This Song

“The Right To Love” was in 1963 by Lalo Schifrin; the lyrics by Gene Lees were added later. The song was first recorded, without lyrics, in 1963 on an album called Reflections by Stan Getz and Lalo Schifrin. Tony Bennett liked the song from the beginning and suggested that Gene Lees write the lyrics. The resulting song is an anthem for “forbidden” love. At that time, most people associated the song with interracial relationships; in later years, it has been sung by gay singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, this song has been recorded by Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, and k.d. lang.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Right To Love” on February 18,1965, for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“The Right To Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.