Willie Nelson is celebrating his 81st birthday today and The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to join in the celebration of one of America’s greatest singers and composers. In honor of his birthday, the song of the day is “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, in 1930. It was introduced in Lew Leslie’s International Revue. It was an instant jazz standard and has remained popular up to today, with both instrumental and vocal recordings of great stature. Duke Ellington recorded it 1938 with vocalist Ivie Anderson. Instrumental recordings include those Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Lester Young and Dave Brubeck. Vocal recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Judy Garland, Doris Day and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Today’s version is, of course, the duet with Tony and Willie Nelson from the 2011 Duets II. Willie also plays the sweet guitar on this version.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4hkfBXwxJnCWRf9sDZvtkr
“On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” as well as the album Duets II, is available from iTunes.