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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

September 14, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: On Green Dolphin Street

The song of the day for Thursday, September 15, 2022, is “On Green Dolphin Street.”

About This Song

“On Green Dolphin Street” was written by Bronislaw Kaper and Ned Washington in 1947 for the film of the same name. While the song was not widely hailed at the time, it soon became popular with jazz musicians and has become a jazz standard (ranking #25 on jazz standards.com), especially after Miles Davis’ 1958 recording.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “On Green Dolphin Street” on March 26, 1964, with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano; Hal Gaylord on bass; and Billy Exiner on drums for the album When Lights Are Low. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“On Green Dolphin Street,” as well as When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Bronislaw Kaper, Hal Gaylord, Ned Washington, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, When Lights Are Low

August 31, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, September 1, 2022, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters constantly gave 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 sang this version of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” live on August 28, 1962, at a concert hosted by President Kennedy’s White House held at the Washington Monument. The concert, with Bennett and his trio and Dave Brubeck and his quartet, was released in 2013 on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962. Bennett’s trio consisted of Ralph Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennett/Brubeck The White House Sessions Live 1962, Billy Exiner, Dave Brubeck, Hal Gaylord, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett

March 28, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 29, 2022, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Just About Everything” was written by the marvelous jazz pianist and composer Bob Dorough, this song is a true joy to listen to. In his liner notes for Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett says that “this one explains how a singer feels when he sings a song everyone likes.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” in 1964 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low. The arrangement by Ralph Sharon lets the other members of the trio, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass, really shine. This recording is pure joy to listen to.

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Bob Dorough, Hal Gaylord, Ralph Sharon, The Ralph Sharon Trio, When Lights Are Low

September 16, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Friday, September 17, 2021, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About Today

Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett’s long-time pianist and musical director, was born on September 17, 1923, in London, England. We’re honoring him with today’s song that really shows what a fine pianist Sharon was.

About This Song

“I’ve Got Just About Everything” was written by Bob Dorough. The song is a joy to listen to. In his liner notes for Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennet says that “this one explains how a singer feels when he sings a song everyone likes.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” in 1964 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low. In addition to Sharon on piano, the trio featured Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

I"ve Got Just About Everything

Listen to I"ve Got Just About Everything on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Bob Dorough, Hal Gaylord, Happy Birthday Ralph Sharon, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, When Lights Are Low

August 27, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Just In Time

The song of the day for Saturday, August 28, 2021, is “Just In Time.”

About Today

Fifty-nine years ago tonight, August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio and The Dave Brubeck Quartet, invited by President John Kennedy, performed at a concert to celebrate that year’s group of Presidential Scholars. Originally the concert was to be held on the White House grounds, but was so popular that it was held on the National Mall by the Washington Monument. Bennett and Brubeck each played their sets. Then Bennett, Brubeck, bass player Eugene Wright, and drummer Joe Morello returned for a short, completely improvised set.

The concert was recorded and survived long enough for one of the improv numbers to be used on other records. And the original tapes were since thought to be lost. Not long after Brubeck’s death in 2012, the tapes were found, misfiled in the classical music section of Columbia’s vaults. In 2013, Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 as released.

In honor of this concert, The Year of Tony Bennett will feature all of Bennett’s set and the Bennett/Brubeck improv set over the next ten days. Enjoy!

About This Song

“Just In Time” was written for the 1956 Broadway musical hit, Bells Are Ringing, by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sidney Chaplin. Holliday and Dean Martin sang it in the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Just In Time” at the White House concert in 1962, with The Ralph Sharon Trio, featuring Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. The performance was released on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Just In Time - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Just In Time - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2013.

“Just In Time,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Bells Are Ringing, Betty Comden, Billy Exiner, Hal Gaylord, Jule Styne, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett

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