The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Friday, May 24, 2024, is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Norah Jones recorded “Speak Low” in 2011 for Duets II. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

“Speak Low,” as well as Duets II, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the official video of “Speak Low” from Duets II:

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Saturday, May 4, 2024, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About Today

We’re remembering Douglass Cross, who wrote the lyrics to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” was born 104 years ago on May 4, 1920.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by Douglass Cross and George Cory.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters constantly gave Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience

After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 2006 with Bill Charlap on piano for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett won the Record of the Year Grammy Award in 1962 for his initial recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Friday, May 3, 2024, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About Today

Tony Bennett’s album, The Art of Excellence, was released 38 years ago on May 3, 1986, and marked the beginning of the third stage of his career.

In his autobiography The Good Life, he said:

My new record would be called The Art of Excellence, referring not only to the songs, but also to my demand for quality. From that day forward people would expect nothing less from Tony Bennett.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

The song This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” on January 10, 1986, for The Art of Excellence. It was orchestrated and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Folks That Live on the Hill

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 1, 2024, is “The Folks That Live on the Hill.”

About This Song

“The Folks That Live on the Hill” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1937 movie High, Wide, and Handsome, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Bing Crosby recorded it that same year. Peggy Lee recorded it in 1957 for her album The Man I Love; it was conducted by Frank Sinatra. Other recordings include those by Diana Krall, Jo Stafford, and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Folks That Live on the Hill” on May 18, 1989, for his album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, released in 1990. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“The Folks That Live on the Hill,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me

The song of the day for Monday, April 29, 2024, is “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.”

About Today

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born 125 years ago today on April 29, 1989, in Washington D.C. He was a jazz pianist, composer, and orchestra leader from 1923 until his death from lung cancer on May 24, 1971. He wrote over 1500 compositions and thousands of recordings. You can read more about Duke Ellington at his website dukellington.com. On this website he is remembered

It is not just the sheer enormity of his creative output that makes it so enduring, but its emotional depth. During tours of France in the 1930s, a critic wrote that Duke’s music “reveals the very secret of the cosmos;” a poet wrote that “such music is not only a new art form but a new reason for living.” It sounds as fresh today as it ever did, and worthy of a lifetime of study.

About This Song

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” was written by Duke Ellington and Bob Russell in 1940. As with most Ellington songs, the tune was written first and the lyrics added later. Also, as with most Ellington songs, it became a favorite song of both instrumental and vocal musicians. Ellington recorded the song in 1944 and it was a hit on both the R&B and Popular charts. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis, Jr., Anita O’Day, and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released to coincide with the centennial celebration of his birth. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1944 recording of “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me.”