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 Wednesday, March 25, 2026, is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, on the anniversary of her birth on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennesee.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends, starring Burt Reynolds.

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, 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 Duets II. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

We have the official video of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” with Tony Bennett and The Queen of Soul:

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Song of the Day: Watch What Happens

The song of the day for Monday, March 9, 2026, is “Watch What Happens.”

About the Next Two Weeks

Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli has just released a new album, Dear Mr. Bennett to celebrate the centennial birthday of Tony Bennett. Out of the many hundreds of songs that Tony Bennett recorded, Pizzarelli has chosen 12 songs that represent Bennett’s work in the decades from 1950 to 2021. We will be featuring each of those 12 songs with Bennett’s version and Pizzarelli’s version.

John Pizzarelli did a great interview with Alison Stewart on WNYC about the new album.

We’ve added links to some of the many wonderful reviews of Dear Mr. Bennett: Paris Move, Jazz Views, Stage and Cinema, and Broadway World.

See johnpizzarelli.com for information about his recordings, as well as his weekly radio program Radio Deluxe, with singer and actress Jessica Molaskey.

About This Song

“Watch What Happens” was composed by Michel Legrand, with French lyrics by Jacques Demy, for the 1964 film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Norman Gimbel wrote the English lyrics. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of the song, other than the film soundtrack, and the first in English.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Watch What Happens” on January 4, 1965, for If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Watch What Happens,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

Dear Mr. Bennett

Tony Bennett opened most of his concerts with “Watch What Happens,” and that song is the first song on Dear Mr. Bennett.

The John Pizzarelli Trio (Pizzarelli on guitar and vocals, Michael Karn on bass, and Isaiah J. Thompson on piano) recorded “Watch What Happens” for Dear Mr. Bennett, released in March 2026.

“Watch What Happens,” as well as Dear Mr. Bennett, is available for purchase on CD and vinyl at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tower Records, and other record stores. It is also available on most popular streaming services.

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

The song of the day for Monday, July 21, 2025, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was written by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman 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, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” on January 10, 1986, for his album The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“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: You Must Believe in Spring

The song of the day for Sunday, July 20, 2025, is “You Must Believe in Spring.”

About This Song

“You Must Believe in Spring” was written by Michel Legrand, with English lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the 1967 French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, which starred Catherine Deneuve. “You Must Believe In Spring” 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, released in 1977.

“You Must Believe in Spring,” as well as Together Again, 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.