The song of the day for Monday, January 110, 2022, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is saddened by the death of Marilyn Bergman, who wrote the lyrics to today’s song with her husband Alan. She died on Saturday, January 8, 2022, in her home in Los Angeles. We offer our sincere condolences to her husband Alan, her daughter Julie Bergman, and all of her friends and family.

When Frank Sinatra died in 1995, Ms. Bergman called Tony Bennett and told him that he had to assume Sinatra’s place as the keeper of the Great American Songbook. I have to wonder who, if anyone, can fill in for Marilyn Bergman in writing brilliant lyrics for these songs.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was written by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman 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 and Aretha Franklin recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” in 2011 for the album Duets II. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?,” as well as Duets II is available on Apple Music.