The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By 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.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So

The song of the day for Friday, November 13, 2020, is “I’m Just a Lucky So and So.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” in 1945, with lyrics by Mack David. A favorite song of Tony Bennett, “I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So” has also been recorded by Billy Eckstine, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So” om 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangment.

I"m Just A Lucky So And So

Listen to I"m Just A Lucky So And So on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’m Just A Lucky So And So

The song of the day for Friday, September 13, 2019, is “I’m Just A Lucky So And So.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “I’m Just A Lucky So And So” in 1945, with lyrics by Mack David. A favorite song of Tony Bennett, “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” has also been recorded by Billy Eckstine, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald. and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times, including in 1956 for his album Tony and in 1962 at his legendary concert at Carnegie Hall. Today’s version, however, is from his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999 in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the birth of Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. The terrific arrangement is by Ralph Burns, whom Tony began working with in 1959 on his album Hometown, My Town.

“I’m Just A Lucky So And So,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Saturday, July 21, 2018 is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, 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: Bennett Sings the Blues.

And he does indeed sing 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, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today we are honoring Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922 in Dougherty, Oklahoma, though the family soon moved to Dallas. She started singing on radio talent shows at the age of 7 and by the age of 10 she had her own 15 minute radio show. At the age of only 15, she was hired to sing with the Joe Venuti orchestra, with the caveat of a midnight curfew at the insistence of her parents. She went on to have an illustrious singing career that lasted for many years–she released her last album in 1997.

Kay Starr

Starr was successful in every field of music she tried: jazz, pop and country. But her roots were in jazz. Billie Holiday, considered by many the greatest jazz singer of all time, called Starr “the only white woman who could sing the blues.”

Kay Starr died in November 2016. She is buried in her birthplace of Dougherty, Oklahoma next to her parents.

Our Saturday video features one of Kay Starr’s greatest hits: “Wheel of Fortune,” as sung on television in 1952.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’m Just a Lucky So and So

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 30, 2018 is “I’m Just a Lucky So and So.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I’m Just a Lucky So and So,” was written in 1945 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Mack David. A favorite song of Tony Bennett, “I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So” has also been recorded by Billy Eckstine, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” in 1957 for his album Tony; he also sang it at his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. Our version today is from his 1999 tribute album to Duke Ellington, released in Ellington’s 100th anniversary year: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the fine arrangement. Your author adores this album.

I"m Just A Lucky So And So

Listen to I"m Just A Lucky So And So on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.


“I’m Just a Lucky So and So,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

Tony Bennett’s portrait of Duke Ellington hangs in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian. You can read about the donation ceremony and listen to Bennett’s remarks here:

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