The song of the day for Sunday, February 28, 2021, is “All Of Me.”
About This Song
“All Of Me” ws written in 1931 by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. It’s the only song by Marks and Simons to become popular in the jazz repertoire. Early recordings included those by Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey and Ruth Etting. In his masterful book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia writes
The definitive version of “All Of Me” wouldn’t appear for another decade, but when Billie Holiday recorded the song, with tenor saxophonist Lester Young on hand, she staked a claim of ownership that no one has managed to dislodge in subsequent years.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “All Of Me” in 1996 for Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1977. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.
Tony Bennett won the 1998 Grammy Award For Best Traditional Pop Performance for Tony Bennett On Holiday.
“All Of Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.
Here’s “All Of Me,” recorded in 1941 by Billie Holiday with Eddie Heywood and His Orchestra. Lester Young has a sweet solo.