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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

July 20, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 21, 2021, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About Today

Today we are remembering the great Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922, and died at the age of 94 on November 3, 2016. She was a remarkably versatile singer who excelled in popular music, jazz, and country music. Over her career, she worked with Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, Roy Acuff, Count Basie, and many more.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livington, and Mack David. Count Basie recorded his song in 1938; other recordings include those by The Mills Brothers, Michel Legrand, The King Cole Trio, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue and Sentimental” with Kay Starr for his 2001 album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The vocals were arranged by Rob Mathes.

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Count Basie, Happy Birthday to Kay Starr, Jerry Livingston, Kay Starr, Mack David, Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, Tony Bennett

February 2, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 3, 2021, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, and Mack David. Basie first recorded it in 1938 and again in 1947. Other significant recordings include those by The King Cole Trio, The Mills Brothers, and Michel Legrand on his album Legrand Jazz.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in 2001 for the album Playing With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues.

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings the Blues, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, Kay Starr, Mack David, Playin' With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings the Blues

July 20, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Friday, July 21, 2017 is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston and Mack David. This song was initially recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1938. It has since been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends.

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.


“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett honors Kay Starr on the anniversary of her birth, July 21,1922.

Born as Katherine Laverne Starks in Oklahoma, Kay Starr got her start in Dallas, Texas when, at the age of seven, she sang on the radio station WRR. From that early start, she won the weekly talent shows so often that she was given her own 15-minute program, earning $3 a week. She soon made a name singing pop and hillbilly songs. By the age of 15, she was singing professionally with Joe Venuti and his orchestra. In 1947 signed a contract with Capitol Records. The label had a number of female singers signed up including Peggy Lee, Ella Mae Morse, Jo Stafford and Margaret Whiting and soon began her career as a jazz singer.

Miss Starr was an immensely versatile and popular singer. She performed, though sporadicly towards the end, well into the 21st century.

Kay Starr passed away in November, 2016 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 94.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, Kay Starr, Mack David, Tony Bennett

November 4, 2016 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Rest in Peace, Kay Starr

It was with great sadness that The Year of Tony Bennett learned that Kay Starr passed away on November 3, 2016 at her home in Bel Air, California, from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease.

She was one of the great singers of the 20th century who did it all: country, western, popular, jazz, the blues and more. Of all of her accolades, I think the greatest came from Billie Holiday, who said that “she was the only white woman who could sing the blues.”

Kay Starr was born in Dougherty, Oklahoma on July 21, 1922, but soon moved with the family to Dallas, Texas. Her singing talents were recognized when she was quite young; she won many radio station talent contests as a child. She was only ten years old when she was earning $3 a night singing popular and hillbilly music.

After high school, she moved to Los Angeles and began working with Charlie Barnet’s band. In 1947, she was signed by Capitol Records, though found herself taking a back seat to the more established female singers. In spite of that, she steadily built a solid and long-lasting career as a singer.

Her background in pop, jazz and country-western type music was unusual, but put her in a position to sing all types of music, though her primary interest and leanings were to sing jazz and she became known as a “saloon singer” and was known for her emotional power and connection to the songs she sang.

You can her obituaries from the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times by clicking on the links.

We leave you with the duet she recorded with Tony Bennett in 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings the Blues: “Blue and Sentimental.”

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

Filed Under: About His Collaborators Tagged With: Blue and Sentimental, Kay Starr

July 20, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Thursday, July 21, 2016 is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston and Mack David. This song was initially recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1938. It has since been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in 2001 for Bennett’s blue’s album, which has a good number of great duets, Playin’ With My Friends.

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.


“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today I very pleased to honor Kay Starr on her 94th birthday. Miss Starr was born on July 21, 1922 in Oklahoma but her family soon relocated to Dallas, Texas. By the age of seven, she was appearing in and winning talent shows on the radio in Dallas. By the age of ten, she was singing on stage and earning $3 a night, which was pretty good money in the Depression.

Kay Starr
Kay Starr

Kay Starr did it all: pop, country, and great jazz. She was one of the great female voices of the 20th century. Happy birthday, Kay Starr!

THE DINAH SHORE CHEVY SHOW -- "Swingin' at the Summit" Episode 518 -- Pictured: (l-r) Jazz musician Louis Armstrong, singers Kay Starr, Tony Bennett --
THE DINAH SHORE CHEVY SHOW — “Swingin’ at the Summit” Episode 518 — Pictured: (l-r) Jazz musician Louis Armstrong, singers Kay Starr, Tony Bennett —

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Count Basie, Happy Birthday to Kay Starr, Kay Starr, Mack David, Playing With My Friends

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