The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Put On A Happy Face

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 12, 2025, is “Put On A Happy Face.”

About Today

We want to wish James Taylor a very happy birthday. Taylor, Tony Bennett’s duet partner for today’s song, was born 77 years ago today on March 12, 1948.

About This Song

“Put On A Happy Face” was written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams for the 1960 Broadway musical Bye, Bye Birdie, which was based loosely on the story of Elvis Presley being drafted into the Army in 1957.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and James Taylor recorded “Put On A Happy Face” on February 7, 2006 for the 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Put On A Happy Face,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

We are happy to include the official video for the recording, which includes an interview with Tony Bennett, James Taylor, and Phil Ramone, who produced the album.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Saturday, March 8, 2025, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

The Art of Romance won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 26, 2025, is “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”

About This Song

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the 1934 movie Moulin Rouge, where it was sung by Constance Bennett. Although numerous artists have recorded “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (including Bing Crosby 1944), this song is very strongly identified with Tony Bennett. In fact, his demo record of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was heard by Mitch Miller and got Bennett his first recording contract with Columbia Records.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” in May 1989 for his album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, released 35 years ago today on February 26, 1990. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangements and conducted the orchestra.

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

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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: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Saturday, February 8, 2025, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

“Sophisticated Lady” was composed by Duke Ellington in 1932 as an instrumental; the lyrics by Mitchell Parish were added later. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by three of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring an arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli. The album was released in Ellington’s centenary year. He was born in Washington, DC on April 29, 1899.

“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1933 instrumental recording of “Sophisticated Lady,” which featured Toby Hardwick on alto sax, Barney Bigard on clarinet, Lawrence Brown on trombone, and Ellington on piano.