The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: All Of My Life

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 11, 2025, is “All Of My Life.”

About This Song

“All Of My Life” was written by Irving Berlin in 1944. This sweet ballad expresses the yearning for a nice life with the one that you love, a message that was quite poignant for a country towards the end of World War II. Significant recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Harry James, Sarah Vaughan, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All Of My Life” in May 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. Dexter Gordon is featured on tenor saxophone.

“All Of My Life,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Russian Lullaby

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 21, 2025, is “Russian Lullaby.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers the great John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie, born on October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina.

Dizzy Gillespie lived in Englewood, New Jersey, where Tony Bennett, his first wife Patricia, and his songs Danny and Dae also lived. One day the doorbell rang and a very young Danny answered the door. Gillespie stood there and announced “I’m Dizzy!” The very polite young Danny then asked Dizzy if he’d like come in and have a glass of water.

I heard Tony Bennett tell this story during a online interview. Danny gave his father one of the those “Oh, Dad” looks. I think it’s a funny and charming story.

About This Song

“Russian Lullaby” was written by Irving Berlin in 1927. In the song, Berlin (born Isador Beilin) explores his childhood roots as an Eastern European/Belarusian Jewish immigrant. The song is like a folk melody and the lyrics are lovely. “Russian Lullaby” was first used in vaudeville and gained recognition with the recording by Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra. It has also been recorded by Bunny Berigan, Guy Lombardo, Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Russian Lullaby” in May 1987 for the album Bennett/Berlin. Dizzy Gillespie is featured on trumpet.

“Russian Lullaby,” as well as Russian Lullaby, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Shaking the Blues Away

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 19, 2025, is “Shaking the Blues Away.”

About This Song

“Shaking the Blues Away” was written by Irving Berlin for The Zeigfeld Follies of 1927. It was introduced by Ruth Etting, who was making her first appearance in the Follies. Berlin pulled it out of the trunk for the 1948 film Easter Parade, where it was a dance number for Ann Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Shaking the Blues Away” in May 1987 for Bennett/Berlin, a tribute to Irving Berlin. He was accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums).

“Shaking the Blues Away,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ruth Etting’s 1927 recording of “Shaking the Blues Away.” I must admit that the original lyrics upset me quite a bit. I’m very glad that Tony Bennett chose to make some changes to the racist lyrics.

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Song of the Day: The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)

The song of the day for Sunday, May 11, 2025, is “The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On).”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is celebrating Irving Berlin, who was born as Israel Isidore Beilin on May 11, 1888, in Tyumen, Siberia, where his father was an itinerant cantor. The family immigrated to the United States and arrived at Ellis Island on September 14, 1893.

About This Song

“The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)” was written by Irving Berlin in 1927 for the musical Will o’ the Whispers.

In his book The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia, Thomas Hischak calls this song “… an Irving Berlin standard whose title has been called the theme of all popular music, a chilling number in which both the lover and the ballad that was ‘their song’ is gone; yet neither can be forgotten because they remain in one’s memory.” This song was recorded in 1927 by Ruth Etting and has remained popular over the years with recordings by Dick Haymes, Dizzy Gillespie, Jeri Southern, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)” in May 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. The recording features Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet.

“The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On),” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 16, 2025, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day.”

About This Song

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 for the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day” in May 1987 for his tribute to Irving Berlin: Bennett/Berlin.

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the scene from Top Hat, with Astaire and Ginger Rogers: