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 Sentimemtal

About Today

We are celebrating Kay Starr, Tony’s duet partner for today’s song, on the anniversary of her birth in Oklahoma on July 21, 1922. Kay loved to sing as a small child and won her first talent show at the age of 7. By then the family had moved to Dallas, Texas, where Kay found many opportunities to sing and earn money. She was discovered at the age of 15 by Joe Venuti and worked with Venuti for several years. Starr considered herself a jazz singer, but she also sang traditional pop, country, and Western swing music. She performed well into her 80s, including a stint in the revue 3 Girls, with Helen O’Connell and Margaret Whiting. She died in 2016 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, with Jerry Livingston and Mack David, and was originally recorded by The Count Basie Orchestra. 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 May 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

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

We’ve got Kay Starr’s 1957 recording of “Blue and Sentimental.”

By Leave a Comment

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

The song of the day for Monday, June 8, 2026, is “I’m Just a Lucky So and So.”

About This Song

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So” was written in 1945 by Duke Ellington and Mack David. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall, Mose Allison, and Harry “Sweets” Edison with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” live at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962. The concert 2-LP album, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, was released in August 1962.

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

Duke Ellington, with Al Hibbler, recorded “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” on November 26, 1945.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: La Vie en Rose

The song of the day for Thursday, April 23, 2026, is “La Vie En Rose.”

About This Song

“La Vie en Rose” was written in 1945 by Marguerite Monnot and Louis Guglielmi (aka Louiguy). The song was made famous by Edith Piaf, who first recorded it in 1946. Mack David wrote the English lyric. “La Vie en Rose” has been widely recorded ever since and used in many films, from Bull Durham to WALL-E. The 2007 film biography of Edith Piaf, which starred Marion Cotillard, was titled La Vie en Rose.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “La Vie En Rose” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World, consisting songs recorded by Louis Armstrong. Lee Musiker was the musical director and wrote the musical arrangement; Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement. Peter Matz conducted and created the orchestration.

“La Vie en Rose,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

A Wonderful World won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.


.
“La Vie En Rose,” as well as A Wonderful Word, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Edith Piaf’s 1946 recording:

And here is Louis Armstrong’s 1950 recording:

By Leave a Comment

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

The song of the day for Monday, November 176 2025, is “I’m Just a Lucky So and So.”

About This Song

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So” was written in 1945 by Duke Ellington and Mack David. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall, Mose Allison, and Harry “Sweets” Edison with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

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

Duke Ellington, with Al Hibbler, recorded “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” on November 26, 1945.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Thursday, August 14, 2025, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

A Belated Birthday

We’re remembering the late Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922. Normally, we remember Tony Bennett’s collaborators on their birth date, but because July 21 also marked our remembrance of Tony Bennett on the anniversary of his passing, we skipped Kay Starr.

Kay Starr was a remarkable singer who sang songs in several genres: jazz, pop, blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll. Jazz was her primary calling. Her first professional job occurred when she was discovered by jazz violinist Joe Venuti when Starr was only 15 years old. Venuti was playing at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN, for the summer. Her parents allowed her to perform, as long as she was home by midnight. After she graduated from high school, she moved to Los Angeles to work with Joe Venuti.

You can learn more about Kay Starr on Wikipedia and All About Jazz.com.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, and Mack David. Recordings of the song include those by The King Cole Trio, The Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Catherine Russell.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

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

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

As a special treat, we’re including Kay Starr’s 1952 recording of “Wheel of Fortune,” which was a smash hit and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.