• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 13, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Willow Weep For Me

The song of the day for Monday, April 13, 2015 is “Willow Weep For Me.”

About This Song

“Willow Weep For Me” was written in 1932 by a Radcliffe student named Ann Ronell. She encountered some initial trouble in getting the song published, but once Irving Berlin decided to publish the song, it began to take off. The first recording was made by Ted Fio Rito, with vocals by Muzzy Marcellino. The song became a jazz standard and has been recorded by many fine jazz artists, including Art Tatum, Dinah Washington, Stan Kenton, Thelonius Monk, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Today’s song, “Willow Weep For Me,” is the seventh song on Tony Bennett On Holiday. This arrangement, while featuring piano heavily, also includes a really beautiful string accompaniment, arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. Tony Bennett sings it so quietly and lightly … this version a thing of real and honest beauty.

Willow Weep For Me

Listen to Willow Weep For Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.


“Willow Weep For Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

About Billie Holiday’s Version

Lady Day recorded this song several times, including her live performance at Newport Jazz in 1957. There are several recorded live performances dating back to 1953 as well. The first studio recording was made in 1954 and released on the Clef label and was also used on her last album Lady Sings The Blues, released in 1957. This is the version I’m presenting today.

Willow Weep For Me

Listen to Willow Weep For Me on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 1956.

“Willow Weep For Me,” as well as Lady Sings The Blues, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ann Ronell, Billie Holiday, Lady Sings The Blues, Tony Bennett On Holiday

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites

  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: Growing Pains
  • Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up
  • Collaborator of the Month: Marion Evans
  • Song of the Day: The Good Life
  • Review: Viva Duets
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2023 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress