The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Lullaby of Broadway

The song of the day for Sunday, January 5, 2020, is “Lullaby of Broadway.”

About Today

Every weekend for the rest of 2020, I’ll be featuring recordings of Tony’s live performances, in order by date. I hope you enjoy Tony Live!

About This Song

“Lullaby of Broadway,” written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, was introduced in the 1935 movie Gold Diggers of 1935; it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is one of the great show biz anthems. The 1980 musical 42nd Street featured Jerry Orbach singing the song. (I only mention this as I had the good fortune to see this show soon after it opened and Mr. Orbach was wonderful!)

About This Version

Tony Bennett opened his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall with “Lullaby of Broadway.” The concert was recorded and was released as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon was the musical director for this show and wrote the arrangements.

“Lullaby of Broadway,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Happy Birthday, Tony!

The playlist for the week of August 4, 2019, is a continuation of our celebration of Tony’s 93rd birthday–Happy Birthday, Tony!

For this playlist, I chose fifteen recordings that were either really great songs or recordings that I really, really like. I hope you like it too.

Happy Birthday, Tony!

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St. James Infirmary Blues (ca. 1949) from Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 1
Lost in the Stars (1956) Tony
All The Things You Are (2015) The Silver Lining – The Songs of Jerome Kern
The Way You Look Tonight (1997) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 2
Fascinatin’ Rhythm (1949) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 1
Last Night When We Were Young (1992) Perfectly Frank
One For My Baby (And One More for the Road) (1992) Perfectly Frank
Fly Me to the Moon (1965) If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set
Body and Soul, with Amy Winehouse (2011) Duets II
I Wanna Be Around (1962) I Wanna Be Around
The Rules of the Road (1964) When Lights Are Low
But Beautiful, with Bill Evans (1975) The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
Some Other Time, with Bill Evans (1975) The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2004) A Swingin’ Christmas
Trav’lin’ Light (1996) Tony Bennett On Holiday

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

The song of the day for Saturday, August 3, 2019, 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 Douglas Cross.

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 (a performance that an underage high school kid name Bill Clinton listened to through a window in the hall), 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 two Grammy Awards: one for Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male and the other for Record of the Year. 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 a single on February 2, 1962. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement. It was also the title song for the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, released in 1962.

We are of course celebrating Tony Bennett’s 93rd birthday! I’ve always found it interesting that the composer of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” George Cory, also was born on August 3.

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Tony Bennett the happiest of birthdays.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

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“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You’re All the World To Me

The song of the day for Friday, August 3, 2018 is “You’re All the World To Me.”

About This Song

“You’re All The World To Me” was written by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 MGM musical Royal Wedding, starring Fred Astaire. Astaire performed this song in one of the most famous shots in all of musical film: the dancing on the ceiling number.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You’re All the World To Me” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

You’re All the World to Me

You’re All the World to Me, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“You’re All the World To Me,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Tony Bennett a very happy 92nd birthday. You’re all the world to us, your fans!

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

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.

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