The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Friday, May 3, 2024, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About Today

Tony Bennett’s album, The Art of Excellence, was released 38 years ago on May 3, 1986, and marked the beginning of the third stage of his career.

In his autobiography The Good Life, he said:

My new record would be called The Art of Excellence, referring not only to the songs, but also to my demand for quality. From that day forward people would expect nothing less from Tony Bennett.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

The song This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” on January 10, 1986, for The Art of Excellence. It was orchestrated and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Where Do You Start

The song of the day for Sunday, April 14, 2024, is “Where Do You Start.”

About This Song

“Where Do You Start” was written in 1987 by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. This song has had many great recordings, including those from Nancy Lamott, Shirley Horn, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Annie Ross, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Where Do You Start” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by the composer, Johnny Mandel.

“Where Do You Start,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep the Music Playing?

The song of the day for Monday, March 24, 2024, is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?.”

About Today

Today we honor the late Aretha Franklin, who was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, Reverend Clarence La Vaughan Franklin, was a Baptist preacher, and her mother, Barbara Siggers Franklin, was a gospel singer who passed away when Aretha was ten. The Franklin family relocated to Detroit, where Aretha’s gifts were nurtured.

She became known as the Queen of Soul and had many hit records, including “Respect,” “Think,” and “A Natural Woman.” She died on August 16, 2018, at 76.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the 1982 movie Best Friends. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” in 2011 for the album Duets II. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

Duets II won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing?,” as well as Duets II, is available on Apple Music.

We have a couple of videos for you today.

First is the official Vevo video of Bennett and Franklin’s recording of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

This video is from the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors. Carole King was an honoree, and Miss Franklin was invited to sing King’s song “A Natural Woman.” The performance was outstanding and is remembered for making the First Couple, Barack and Micelle Obama, cry. It’s one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen.

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Song of the Day: You Must Believe In Spring

The song of the day for Monday, January 15, 2024, is “You Must Believe In Spring.”

About This Song

“You Must Believe In Spring” was written for the 1967 film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort by Michel Legrand, with the original French lyrics by Jacques Demy; the English lyrics were written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Sylvia Syms, Barbra Streisand, and Bill Evans, in a posthumous release of an album with the same name, featuring sessions with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Must Believe In Spring” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again.

“You Must Believe In Spring,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

I found this clip from Les Demoiselles de Rochefort where today’s song (“La Chanson de Maxence”) is sung. Click here to view the clip on YouTube.

I also found this recording of Tony Bennett singing today’s song live, with Michel Legrand on piano and with John Williams conducting.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 10, 2024, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the 1982 movie Best Friends. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” on January 10, 1986, for his album The Art of Excellence. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.