• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

July 26, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Monday, July 27, 2020, is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington’s “In a Mellow Tone,” written in 1939, was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. Milt Gabler wrote the lyrics. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released 100 years after the birth of Ellington in Washington, D.C. The arrangement was written by Ralph Burns, who first worked with Bennett 40 years earlier on Hometown, My Town.

“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Art Hickman, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Duke Ellington, Harry Williams, Milt Gabler, Ralph Burns, Rose Room, Tony Bennett

April 28, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: In a Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Monday, April 29, 2019, is “In a Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “In a Mellow Tone,” was written in 1939 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. The melody was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” for his 1999 album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington.

Today we are celebrating Ellington’s birthday for the 120th anniversary of his birth. I firmly believe that the music of Duke Ellington will live on for at least another 120 years.

In A Mellow Tone

In A Mellow Tone, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“In a Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Duke Ellington, Duke Ellington birthday, Milt Gabler, Tony Bennett

June 4, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Monday, June 5, 2017 is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Ellington’s “In a Mellow Tone,” written in 1939, was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. Milt Gabler wrote the lyrics. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in 1999 for his album of Duke Ellington songs, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns did the arrangement.

In A Mellow Tone

Listen to In A Mellow Tone on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.


“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler, Ralph Burns, Tony Bennett

February 2, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Friday, February 3, 2017 is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

“In A Mellow Tone” was written by Duke Ellington, with lyrics from Milt Gabler, was written in 1939. This song was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released on the centennial birthday of the great Duke Ellington. This recording was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns. It features the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, Clayton Cameron on drums, and Gray Sargent on guitar. I especially like the opening of the song, which starts with just the singer and guitar, then piano and then the rest of the quartet. It’s a lovely beginning. Listen how the song grows throughout to finally bring in the band. Sargent’s guitar is outstanding on this recording.

In A Mellow Tone

Listen to In A Mellow Tone on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.


“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Clayton Cameron, Duke Ellington, Gray Sargent, Milt Gabler, Paul Langosch, Ralph Burns, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett

April 16, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Sunday, April 17, 2016 is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “In A Mellow Tone” in 1939, with lyrics by Milt Gabler.

“In A Mellow Tone” was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in 1999 for his album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It’s a terrific rendition.

In A Mellow Tone

Listen to In A Mellow Tone on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.


“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Duke playing on a nice instrumental of “In A Mellow Tone.”

In A Mellotone

Listen to In A Mellotone on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 1989.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler, Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

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

  • Song of the Day: Stella by Starlight
  • Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road
  • Song of the Day: Dearly Beloved
  • Song of the Day: The Good Life
  • Song of the Day: Samba de Orfeu
  • Song of the Day: Where Do You Start
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2022 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress