The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Saturday, April 11, 2026, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the Sonja Henie film Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” on December 28, 1958, for his second album with Basie, In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.

We have Bennett’s live improv with The Dave Brubeck Trio (Brubeck on piano, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums) of “There Will Never Be Another You” from Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, released in 2013.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Sunday, February 15, 2026,is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

The great Harold Arlen was born 121 years ago on February 15, 1905. We’ll be celebrating Harold Arlen all week.

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. This song has been widely recorded, starting with Glenn, Miller’s 1942 recording. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis Jr., and many more. It was used in several films, including the 1952 movie Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live on August 28, 1962, in Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy had invited The Dave Brubeck Quartet and Tony Bennett, with Ralph Sharon Trio to perform for that year’s White House Presidential Scholars, which consisted of college-age students who wanted to serve their country. The concert was originally to be held in The White House Rose Garden, but wwas moved to The Mall, near the Washington Monument in order to accommodate the expected larger audience.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet played a set, followed by a set by Tony Bennett. After that, Tony Bennett joined Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello for a short improv session, which included “That Old Black Magic.”

The full concert was recorded by Columbia Records. However, the concert tapes were lost somewhere in the Columbia archives, and were only found after Brubeck’s death on December 5, 2012. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions was released on May 28, 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Saturday, December 6, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Dave Brubeck, who was born 105 years ago on December 6, 1920. He was a pianist, composer, and bandleader. There’s an excellent website, davebrubeck.com, which has a thorough biography, information about his compositions, and much more.

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Dave Brubeck Trio, recorded “That Old Black Magic” live in Washington, DC on August 29, 1962, at the invitation of President John F. Kennedy. The audience was a group of college students who had volunteered to work at White House that summer. At the concert, The Dave Brubeck Quartet played a set, followed by Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio. It ended with a improv set, with Bennett, Dave Brubeck (piano), Eugene Wright (bass),and Joe Morello (drums). “That Old Black Magic” is from the improv session.

Columbia Records sent an engineer to record the concert. At some point, the tapes of the concert seem to have disappeared and were thought permanently lost. Thankfully, they were discovered in late 2012, misfiled in the classical music archives. The album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was released on May 28, 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett made a very nice video about the concert that evening. It includes some great photographs from that day.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, August 28, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was popular from the start, with recordings by Glenn Miller and Judy Garland in 1942. The song has been used in films and television, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe, and Star Trek Voyager, where it was sung by Jeri Ryan, portraying Seven of Nine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live 63 years ago on August 28, 1962. Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had both been invited by President John F. Kennedy to perform at a concert honoring that year’s group of summer interns. Originally, the concert was planned for the Rose Garden at the White House, but due to so much interest, it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on the Mall, near the Washington Monument.

Brubeck with his quartet (Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, Joe Morello on drums) opened the concert. Next was Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, Billy Exiner on drums) who performed. After Bernnett’s set, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett did an unplanned improv set, joined by Eugene Wright and Joe Morello.

The concert was taped, but over time it had become lost in the vaults. They were discovered, misfiled in the Classical Music section, in December 2012, just a few weeks after Dave Brubeck’s death. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was finally released in May 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett made a short video about the experience.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Monday, April 28, 2025, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the 1942 Sonja Henie vehicle called Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with the Dave Brubeck Trio, recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” live on August 28, 1962, at a concert held at the request of President John F. Kennedy to honor that year’s Presidential Scholars.

The concert had two guest performers: Dave Brubeck, with his quartet, and Tony Bennett. After both sets, Bennett and Dave Brubeck’s Trio (Brubeck: piano, Eugene Wright: bass, and Joe Morello: drums. Paul Desmond, who played in Brubeck’s set, did not join the improv set) came together for a improv set, which included today’s song.

The concert was recorded, but the tapes got lost somewhere in the Columbia vaults. The were only found in 2012, soon after Brubeck’s death) in the classical section. Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 was released on May 28, 2013.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.