The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The song of the day for December 15, 2022, the second day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. The song had a spectacular debut. The song was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in 2004 and released it in 2008 for A Swingin’ Christmas. It was arranged by Bill Holman and features Andy Snitzer on alto sax. The album features The Count Basie Big Band.

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 1`, 2021, the eighth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie; the song had a spectacular debut. It was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November, 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by that Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” in 1967 for the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, which was released the following year. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

On the ninth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, the song of the day for Tuesday, December 22, 2020, is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. It had a spectacular debut. The song was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” in 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Santa Claus Is Comin" To Town

Listen to Santa Claus Is Comin" To Town on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 18, 2018, is “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
Today is the fifth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

About This Song

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. The song had a spectacular debut. it was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” with The Count Basie Big Band for the 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

On the First Day of Tony Bennett Christmas, Friday, December 14, 2012, the song of the day is Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

Painting by Tony Bennett for the American Cancer Society Christmas card for 2010
Painting by Tony Bennett for the American Cancer Society Christmas card for 2010

About Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

This favorite Christmas song was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, who also wrote You Go To My Head, featured on The Beat of My Heart. It was first played on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934; on the very next day, over 100,000 orders for the sheet music were placed, with more than 400,000 copies sold by Christmas of that year.

About This Version

This version is from the delightful A Swingin’ Christmas with the Count Basie Big Band, released in 2008.  Produced by Phil Ramone, this song features the Quartet of Lee Musiker (p), Gray Sargent (d), Paul Langosch (b) and Harold Jones (d).

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Listen to Santa Claus Is Coming to Town on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2008.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, as well as the entire A Swingin’ Christmas with the Count Basie Big Band, is available from iTunes.

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