The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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

The song of the day for Sunday, August 3, 2025, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About Today

Tony Bennett was born on August 3, 1926, in Astoria, Queens. He would have been 99 years old today. I miss him all the time and am grateful for getting to attend so many of his concerts and getting to meet him backstage.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross, songwriters and partners from San Francisco who were feeling homesick.

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 (at which a high school saxophone player named Bill Clinton stood outside listening through the window), 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 a single soon after. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement. The recording was added to the 1962 album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

Bennett won the 1963 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

I absolutely love this version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on The Judy Garland television show in July 1963.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Saturday, August 7, 2021, is “Some Other Time.”

About This Week

Today marks the end of our special week-long celebration of Tony Bennett’s birthday. I saved what I think is the best for last: “Some Other Time” from The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. Thank you for joining me in honoring the great Tony Bennett on this special birthday. And remember: every year is the year of Tony Bennett.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written in 1944 by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green for the Broadway musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the very end of the show by two of the couples, as they say goodbye and hope to catch up again, some other time. For reasons unknown, this song was omitted from the 1949 film version of On The Town.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975. Evans had been playing the song for some time prior to their including it on this first of the two albums they would make together.

Some Other Time

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975

“Some Other Time,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album is available on Apple Music.

This is Bill Evans’s 1959 recording of “Some Other Time” from Everybody Digs Bill Evans.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Bill Evans · 1959

In case you’re interested, here is a recording of “Some Other Time” from a studio cast recording of On The Town. The lyricists, Betty Comden and Adolph Greene, sing in this recording. It’s really lovely..

On the Town: Act II: Some Other Time

Listen to On the Town: Act II: Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Nancy Walker, Adolph Green, Cris Alexander, On the Town Orchestra (1960), On the Town 1960 Studio Cast Recording · 1959

Do I love this song? I absolutely do. I have a playlist of 20 or so recordings of “Some Other Time.” Try the Blossom Dearie version from Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Greene, also from 1959.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Blossom Dearie · 1959

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Tony Birthday Wishes Part 2

#WeAreSF on Twitter

Happy 90th Birthday Tony Bennett! #Tony90 #SFGiantspic.twitter.com/2iuFadyYBH

Suzanne Chiles on Twitter

The Year of Tony Bennett blog wishes you a very happy 90th birthday! Thanks for all the beautiful music. https://bloggingtonybennett.com #Tony90

Tony Bennett on Twitter

Hey, thanks @willienelson! Can’t wait to see you soon. #Tony90pic.twitter.com/gbRf1CJneK

Monterey Jazz on Twitter

“If you are creative you get busier as you get older.” – @itstonybennett #Tony90 #happybirthdaypic.twitter.com/CiIpNqM4Bv

LLCOOLJ. on Twitter

Happy 90th Birthday to a class act, @itstonybennett!! #Tony90pic.twitter.com/u3zRG5whsG

Columbia Records on Twitter

The one and only @itstonybennett talked to @alroker on @todayshow this morning about #Tony90 http://on.today.com/2aIm91U pic.twitter.com/IDPscVF5Pz

The GRAMMYs on Twitter

@itstonybenett turns the big 9-0 today! Did you know he’s an 18-time GRAMMY winner? #Tony90pic.twitter.com/RQxsUlrg7j

Starbucks Coffee on Twitter

@itstonybennett Honoring a legend-happy birthday, Tony! #Tony90 #TonyxStarbuckspic.twitter.com/xRb39J652s

Royal Albert Hall on Twitter

Happy 90th birthday @itstonybennett Since making his Hall debut in 1971 he has performed here 20 times!! #Tony90pic.twitter.com/wcZzKrDEVW

WBGO Jazz 88.3FM on Twitter

90 looks GREAT on you @itstonybennett Happy Birthday from WBGO! #Tony90pic.twitter.com/k7b53YrH75

Legacy Recordings on Twitter

Happy 90th birthday to @itstonybennett! What’s your favorite of his songs? #TONY90pic.twitter.com/LhlJ3SNV0X

HarperCollins on Twitter

Happy 90th birthday to the one, the only @itstonybennett! It’s true, you’re Just Getting Started! #Tony90pic.twitter.com/z7ijTPIUBz

James Taylor on Twitter

Help us wish a very happy 90th birthday to the incredible @itsTonyBennett. A lifetime of beautiful music! |#Tony90pic.twitter.com/xojiAz2Zfh

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Tony Birthday Wishes Part 1

Barnes & Noble on Twitter

Wishing our good friend @itstonybennett a very Happy Birthday! #Tony90pic.twitter.com/y7QT9YzLrA

Amazon Music on Twitter

He’s been a shining light for 90 years. Happy birthday, @itstonybennett! #Tony90 http://amzn.to/2aTNSww pic.twitter.com/w5isKs6QvT

GMA Pop News on Twitter

WATCH: A look back at @itstonybennett’s life and career on his 90th birthday! #Tony90 http://abcn.ws/2avrbPX pic.twitter.com/P5JFPKh1iZ

Teahouse Records on Twitter

Happy 90th birthday to the wonderful Tony Bennett!! #Tony90 #StillGoingStrong #Jazz #Teaho… http://ift.tt/2av90GR pic.twitter.com/5aVs3CgJd5

Kim Mitchell on Twitter

Happy Birthday, Tony! You are a #livinglegend! #Tony90 #TonyBennettpic.twitter.com/HXWmrGaJdQ

Ben Jones on Twitter

Ladies and gentleman, be upstanding for the incredible, legendary #TonyBennett; 90 today! Voice of a god #Tony90pic.twitter.com/yZ35DVAomR

Apple on Twitter

AppleMusic: 90 Candles. 19 Grammys. 1 Legend. Happy Birthday itstonybennett! #Tony90 http://apple.co/2am3c2K pic.twitter.com/2cc9M2vAuJ

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

On Tony Bennett’s 90th birthday, the song of the day for August 3, 2016 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

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. Douglass Cross and George 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

Today, we honor Tony Bennet with the first, and truly wonderful, recording of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” recorded on January 23, 1962. It was soon released as a single and was the foundation for the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. The arrangement is by Marty Manning.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962


“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

I find highly appropriate to note that August 3 not only Tony Bennett’s birthday, but also that of composer of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco”: George Cory, who was born in San Francisco on August 3, 1920. He and his partner (romantic and professional) Douglass Cross were a pair of homesick, struggling songwriters living in New York when they wrote this song in 1953.

So today, we wish Tony Bennett a very happy birthday and remember George Cory on the 96th anniversary of his birth.