The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There’s A Small Hotel

The song of the day for Friday, June 28, 2024, is “There’s A Small Hotel.”

About Today

We are remembering Richard Rodgers on the anniversary of his birth on June 28, 1902. Having written the scores to 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs, Rodgers is one of the most prolific and important American 20th-century composers.

About This Song

“There’s A Small Hotel” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1935 Broadway musical Jumbo and was also used the next year in On Your Toes, where it was introduced by Ray Bolger and Doris Carson. The song has been recorded by artists including Chet Baker, Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Della Reese.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’s A Small Hotel” in July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

“There’s A Small Hotel,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Sondbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Bewitched

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 28, 2023, is “Bewitched.”

About Today

We are proud to honor songwriter Richard Rodgers, who was born on June 28, 1902, in New York City. Having written 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs, he was one of the most well-known American composers of the 20th century. Over his career, he partnered with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein. His songwriting career began in 1920 with Poor Little Ritz Girl and ended in 1979 with I Remember Mama. His body of work was remarkable and his musicals are produced all over the world and often revived on Broadway. He was the first composer to win the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) as well as the Pulitzer Prize. His legacy lives on, first by his daughter Mary Rodgers, and later her son Adam Guettel, who won Tony awards in 2005 for his musical The Light in the Piazza, capturing Best Score and Best Orchestration.

You can read more about Richard Rodgers on the Songwriters Hall of Fame website.

About This Song

“Bewitched” (sometimes called “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”) was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1940 Broadway musical Pal Joey. where is was introduced by Vivenne Segal. Notable recordings include those by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Bewitched” with Ralph Sharon on October 29, 1959, for his elegant album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961. It’s an extraordinary album that is always a joy to listen to.

“Bewitched,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Wait Till You See Her

The song of the day for Friday, June 28, 2019, is “Wait Till You See Her.”

About This Song

“Wait Till You See Her” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1942 Broadway musical By Jupiter, which starred Ray Bolger. Even though the song was well-recieved in previews, it was cut prior to opening in order to tighten up the show. Songs cut from productions are often lost, but Mabel Mercer loved the song and sang it regularly in her act. Other great recordings include those by Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie.

We’re featuring this song today in honor of Richard Rodgers, who was born on June 28, 1902. Between his work with Larry Hart and Oscar Hammerstein, he bridged the history of American Musical Theater.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Wait Till You See Her” in 1973, with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, which featured Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s lovely sound for these songs.

“Wait Till You See Her” was released on the 1975 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, which was released on Bennett’s own Improv label.

Wait Till You See Her

Wait Till You See Her, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Wait Till You See Her,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Falling In Love With Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 28, 2017 is “Falling In Love With Love.”

About This Song

“Falling In Love With Love” was written in 1938 by Richard Rodgers for the Broadway musical The Boys of Syracuse. The song pairs a beautiful Rodgers waltz melody with the adult and rather somber lyric by Hart: in other words, a perfect Rodgers and Hart song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Falling In Love With Love” in 1965, featuring an arrangement by Don Costa. It was to be included on the album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, but wasn’t released until 1997 when the album was released on CD.

Falling In Love With Love

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


“Falling In Love With Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers composer Richard Rodgers, who was born on June 28, 1902. In his long career he wrote over 900 songs for 43 Broadway musicals. Rodgers had long and fruitful relationships with lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein. Richard Rodgers was truly one of the great American songwriters.