The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Over the Rainbow

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, is “Over the Rainbow.”

About Today

We are remembering the great Judy Garland, who was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, on June 10, 1922.

About This Song

“Over the Rainbow” was written in 1939 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s and Harburg’s songs, “Over The Rainbow” is from the The Wizard Of Oz. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed down the movie. Thankfully, the preview audiences preferred the movie with the song.

“Over The Rainbow” ranked as the #1 song of the 20th century per the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts. The song has always been closely associated with Judy Garland. In a letter to Harold Arlen, Judy Garland wrote that “the song has become part of my life. It’s so symbolic of everybody’s dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I’ve sung it thousands of times and it’s still the song that’s closest to my heart.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Over The Rainbow” on August 15, 1960, for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Over the Rainbow” as well as Tony Bennett Sigs a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

We have two wonderful videos about today’s song.

You can the full segment of Harburg’s appearance on that program here.

And, to wrap up this look at “Over the Rainbow,” here’s Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz.

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

The song of the day for Monday, May 4, 2026, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross, who was born 106 years ago on May 4, 1920. Cory and Cross were a gay couple, who met while serving in the Army during World War II, where they wrote shows for their fellow servicemen. After the war, they moved to New York to launch their career as songwriters.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving 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 that 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. The San Francisco Giants play Bennett’s recording after every winning home game.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on January 23, 1962, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was released as a single and was the basis for the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, released in June 1962.

In 1963, Tony Bennett won two Grammy Awards:

  1. Record of the Year”
  2. Best Solo Performance, Male

Marty Manning won the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Background Arrangement for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett appeared on the Judy Garland television show and they sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” It was just perfect.

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Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Friday, February 20, 2026, is “Over The Rainbow.”

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland. While one of Arlen’s best-known songs, it was almost cut from the film as the producers thought bit slowed down the film. Thankfully, the preview audiences preferred the movie with the song. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“Over The Rainbow” ranked as the #1 song of the 20th century per the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts.The song has always been closely associated with Judy Garland. In a letter to Harold Arlen, Judy Garland wrote that the song “has become part of my life. It’s so symbolic of everybody’s dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I’ve sung it thousands of times and it’s still the song that’s closest to my heart.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Over The Rainbow” on August 15, 1960, for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

We have two special videos today.

First is Yip Harburg in a clip from a 1979 television show about songwriting.

You can the full segment of Harburg’s appearance on that program here.

And, to wrap up this look at “Over the Rainbow,” here’s Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz.

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Song of the Day: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The song of the day for Monday, December 22, 2025, the 9th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

A Personal Note

First of all, Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from The Year of Tony Bennett. Today’s song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” is my favorite Christmas song of them all. The first time I heard Judy Garland sing it, I was awestruck and get that exact same feeling every time I listen to it. And then there’s Hugh Martin. who was from Birmingham, Alabama, where I grew up. We both went to the same college (Birmingham-Southern College). I even got to meet him once; he would visit the music department when he visited Birmingham and I was briefly introduced to him. (Arranger Marion Evans also went to Birmingham-Southern; Evans worked with Tony Bennett on several albums.)

About This Song

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin for the 1944 film for Meet Me In St. Louis, where it was introduced by Judy Garland, who sang it to Margaret O’Brien (who won a special Academy Juvenile Award for her performance).

In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Judy Garland’s extraordinary performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from the film Meet Me in St. Louis.

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

The song of the day for Sunday, Mary 4, 2025, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross, who was born 105 years ago on May 4, 1920. Cory and Cross met in San Francisco after World War II and were romantic partners for many years. They moved to Brooklyn to start their songwriting career. Feeling homesick, they wrote “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1953. Ralph Sharon, as Tony Bennett’s musical director, was often given songs by songwriters, included Cross and Cory.

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 that 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. The song played at the end of all home games won by the San Francisco Giants. A statue of Tony Bennett was installed on the grounds of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco in honor of Bennett’s 90th birthday.

A passing note about that performance in Hot Springs, AK. A high school student who played the saxophone couldn’t get into the concert, but hung out at the window to listen. That kid was Bill Clinton.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on January 23, 1962, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was released on a 45 RPM record on the B side with “Once Upon a Time.” It was released on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco in June 1962.

The recording received two 1963 Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

In the summer of 1962, Tony Bennett appeared on the Judy Garland Show and sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”