The song of the day for Thursday, August 3, 2017 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
About This Song
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1953 by Douglass Cross and George Cory.
This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving 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 recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on January 23, 1962; it was released as single soon afterwards. This recording served as the basis for the album on the same name, also released in 1962. This recording earned Mr. Bennett the first of his many well-deserved Grammy Awards.
(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco
(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available from iTunes.
About Today
Well, we have a couple of birthday greetings today. The Year of Tony Bennett is honored to wish Tony Bennett a very happy 91st birthday. As one of your many fans, we love you and wish you the very best.
Last year, my beloved San Francisco Giants wished Tony a happy 90th birthday:
But we have another birthday to celebrate as well. We remember George Cory, the composer of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on the anniversary of his birth on August 3, 1920.
I mentioned during lunch at the office today that Thursday the 3rd was Tony Bennett’s 91st birthday. My friends all smiled and asked me if I planned to take the day off. Alas, I can’t take the day off, but I think you can guess who I’ll be listening to on my iPod all day.