The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Antonia

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 12,’ 2025, is “Antonia.”

About This Song

“Antonia” was written in 1989 by Jack Segal and Robert Wells. Antonia Bennett is the youngest of Tony Bennett’s children; his daughter Joanna was born a few years before her. He has said often that he loved the song “When Joanna Love Me,” written by Robert Wells and Jack Segal, so much, that he named his first daughter Joanna. For the album Astoria: The Portrait of the Artist, Bennett asked Wells and Segal to write a song for Antonia, which they did.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Antonia” on May 18, 1989, and was released on Bennett’s 1990 album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Antonia,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available on Apple Music.

Here is Antonia Bennett, singing “The Nearness of You” (written by Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington) from her album Embrace Me:

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Song of the Day: When Joanna Loved Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 11, 2025, is “When Joanna Loved Me.”

About This Song

“When Joanna Loved Me” was written in 1963 by Jack Segal and Robert Wells.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When Joanna Loved Me” on September 17, 1963, for The Many Moods Of Tony, released in 1964. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“When Joanna Loved Me,” as well as The Many Moods Of Tony, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: When Joanna Loved Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 6, 2022, is “When Joanna Loved Me.”

About This Song

“When Joanna Loved Me” was written in 1963 by Jack Segal and Robert Wells and is one of Tony Bennett’s more popular songs. When he performed this song, he would introduce it by saying “I love this song so much that I named my first daughter after it.” It’s a lovely ballad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When Joanna Loved Me” on September 17, 1963, for the 1964 album The Many Moods of Tony. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

“When Joanna Loved Me,” as well as The Many Moods Of Tony is available on Apple Music.

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Tony Live! When Johanna Loved Me

The song of the day for Saturday, August 22, 2020, is “When Johanna Loved Me.”

About This Song

“When Johanna Loved Me” was written in 1963 by Jack Segal and Robert Wells. “When Joanna Love Me” is one of Tony Bennett’s more popular songs. When he sings it in concert, he introduces the song by saying “I love this song so much that I named my first daughter after it.” It’s a lovely ballad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “When Johanna Loved Me” at his 1994 live performance on MTV Unplugged.

“When Johanna Loved Me,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: When Joanna Loved Me

The song of the day for Saturday, January 17, 2015 is “When Joanna Loved Me.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “When Joanna Loved Me,” was written in 1963 by Jack Segal (music) and Robert Wells (lyrics). As Bennett says in the introduction to today’s video, he enjoys singing this song so much he named his first daughter Johanna. In 1989, when he was working on Astoria, he asked Segal and Wells to write a song for his second daughter, Antonia.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “When Joanna Loved Me” several times. Today’s version is, I believe, the first, recorded in 1963 for the album The Many Moods of Tony, released in 1964. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

When Joanna Loved Me

Listen to When Joanna Loved Me on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

About Today

Today is Saturday and that means it’s Video Saturday at The Year of Tony Bennett. Here’s today’s song, from the 1994 MTV Unplugged concert.