The song of the day for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross, two homesick San Franciscans.

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 was 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 first released as a single; after it became popular it was released on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, released on June 18, 1962.

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

Here’s Tony singing “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” accompanied by Ralph Sharon, from the Ed Sullivan Show, aired on November 22, 1964.