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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 3, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Thursday, April 3, 2025, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

In 1942, Paul Whiteman and his band came to the newly formed Capitol Records for a recording session, to include a new composition by Trummy Young and Jimmy Munday, who were both at the session. Young also brought his girlfriend, Billie Holiday, to the session. Mercer quickly wrote lyrics for the song so Holiday could record it. As she was under contract with Columbia Records at that time, she was credited as Lady Day for the recording.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in June 1996 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, which was released in 1997. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday , is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the original 1942 recording of today’s song:

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Capitol Records, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Jorge Calandrelli, Paul Whiteman, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett On Holiday, Trummy Young

February 4, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About Today

Tony Bennett On Holiday: A Tribute to Billie Holiday was released 28 years ago on February 4, 1997.

In 2014, a reader left a thoughtful comment on The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography, our sister site, about this album:

I was surprised to discover that Tony Bennett’s tribute to Lady Day rang truer than all of the other attempts to politicize her, racialize her, or use her as a self-promotional “career stepping stone.” Tony captures the Lady of the Gardenias that struck Sinatra to the core when he first heard her in the late ’30s, causing him to list her as chief among all his inspirations and influences.

I couldn’t agree more.

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy in 1942. Paul Whiteman was set to record the song for Capitol Records, founded by Johnny Mercer. Trummy Young brought his girlfriend, Billie Holiday. Mercer quickly wrote the lyrics to the song so that Holiday could record the vocals. As Holiday was under contract with Columbia at the time, she was credited as Lady Day on the record.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in June 1996 for his tribute album to Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Tony Bennett On Holiday won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1942 recording of “Trav’lin’ Light” with Paul Whitman and His Orchestra:

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Jorge Calandrelli, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett On Holiday, Trummy Young

December 28, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Saturday, December 28, 2024, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was composed in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was introduced by Billie Holiday with The Paul Whiteman Orchestra in 1942. “Trav’lin’ Light” has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Shirley Horn, and Anita O’Day, among many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in June 1966 for Tony Bennett On Holiday, released, in 1977. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Tony Bennett On Holiday won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1942 recording by The Paul Whiteman Orchestra with Billie Holiday:

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billie Holiday, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Jorge Calandrelli, Paul Whiteman, The Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett On Holiday, Trummy Young

August 3, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Saturday, August 3, 2024, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About Today

Today would have been Tony Bennett’s 98th birthday. Although I am so sad that he’s left us, I am also grateful and happy that he left his art and music for us to listen to and enjoy.

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. This wonderful song was first recorded by Paul Whiteman with Billie Holiday on vocals. It’s a wonderful, classic Mercer lyric and the tune is lovely. In addition to this recording, this song has been recorded by Anita O’Day, Peggy Lee, Queen Latifah, Shirley Horn, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in June 1996 for his album tribute to Billy Holiday, Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett on Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Holiday, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett on Holiday: A Tribute to Billie Holiday, Trummy Young

April 7, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Sunday, April 7, 2024, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About Today

We are proud to honor one of the great jazz singers of all time: Billie Holiday. She was born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was given the nickname of Lady Day by Lester Young, a frequent collaborator; Bille returned the favor by calling him Prez. She began performing in Harlem as a young teenager. She played Harlem venues such as Pod’s and Jerry’s, where she was heard by musicians such as Benny Goodman, who recorded several records with Holiday. From 1935 to 1938, she recorded with Teddy Wilson, and made several of her early hits with him. She later worked and toured with Count Basie and also with Artie Shaw. In the 1940s, she began to find real success, one of which was “Trav’lin’ Light” which she made in 1942 with Paul Whiteman. In the late 1940s, she ran into a series of legal problems due to her use of narcotics, which caused her to lose her cabaret license, which made it impossible for her to appear in New York clubs that served alcohol. Holliday died in 1959 in a New York hospital, where she was being treated for cirrhosis of the liver.

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The first recording of this song was the one she made with Paul Whiteman. It’s been a popular song for both vocal and instrument jazz musicians, including those by Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Shirley Horn, Sunny Rollins, and Peggy Lee.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in June 1996 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

Tony Bennett On Holiday won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Holiday’s 1942 recording of “Trav’lin’ Light” with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billie Holiday, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Jorge Calandrelli, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett On Holiday, Trummy Young

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