The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Once Upon a Time

The song of the day for Saturday, September 6, 2025, is “Once Upon a Time.”

About This Song

“Once Upon a Time” was written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams for the 1962 Ray Bolger musical All American, where it was introduced by Bolger and Eileen Herlie. While the musical was not a major smash hit, the song is quite lovely. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording, it was also recorded by Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Howard Keel, Bobby Darrin, and Mandy Patinkin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Once Upon a Time” on January 23, 1962. It was released as the A-side of a 45rpm record with “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” as the B-side. Both songs were included on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, released in June 1962. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“Once Upon a Time,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Sunday, August 3, 2025, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About Today

Tony Bennett was born on August 3, 1926, in Astoria, Queens. He would have been 99 years old today. I miss him all the time and am grateful for getting to attend so many of his concerts and getting to meet him backstage.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross, songwriters and partners from San Francisco who were feeling homesick.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that, and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience.

After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas (at which a high school saxophone player named Bill Clinton stood outside listening through the window), they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to Once Upon a Time. But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay, and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on January 23, 1962; it was released as a single soon after. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement. The recording was added to the 1962 album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

Bennett won the 1963 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

I absolutely love this version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on The Judy Garland television show in July 1963.

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Song of the Day: It Was Me

The song of the day for Friday, August 1, 2025, is “It Was Me.”

About This Song

“It Was Me” was written in 1960 by Gilbert Bécaud and Maurice Vidalin with the title “C’etait Moi,” with English lyrics by Norman Gimbel. It’s a beautiful love song that brings memories of summers past and, maybe, to come. In 2009, Tony Bennett named this as his favorite summer song on NPR.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Was Me” on December 19, 1962, for his 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“It Was Me,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that 2009 interview.

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Song of the Day: Comes Once in a Lifetime

The song of the day for Thursday, July 24, 2025, is “Comes Once in a Lifetime.”

About This Song

“Comes Once in a Lifetime” was written by Jule Styne, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1961 musical Subways Are For Sleeping, based on a true story first reported in Harper’s Magazine of well-dressed homeless people who slept on subways in New York. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, it was a favorite song for Judy Garland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Comes Once in a Lifetime” on September 9, 1961, with an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was first released as a single in 1961; in 1962, the recording was included on Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits.

“Comes Once in a Lifetime,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Once Upon a Summertime

The song of the day for Friday, June 20, 2025, is “Once Upon a Summertime.”

About Today

Summer is here! Time for swim suits, flip flops, and the beach.

About This Song

“Once Upon a Summertime” was written in 1954 by Michel Legrand and Eddie Barclay. The original French lyrics were written by Eddy Marnay; Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics. Blossom Dearie recorded the first English version of “Once Upon a Summertime” in 1958 for her album of the same name. Tony Bennett, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughan recorded it in 1963, followed by Bill Evans in 1964.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Once Upon a Summertime” on October 19, 1962, for I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“Once Upon a Summertime,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.