The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: In a Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Friday, August 8, 2025, is “In a Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

“In a Mellow Tone” was written by Duke Ellington and Milt Gabler in 1939. The tune 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. The first recording of “In a Mellow Tone” was in 1940 and featured solos by Jimmy Blanchet, Cootie Williams, and Johnny Hodges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In a Mellow Tone” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“In a Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that 1940 recording of “In a Mellow Tone.”

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Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 8, 2024, is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “In a Mellow Tone” in 1939, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. The 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 May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. In addition to lovely vocals from Bennett, this recording gives the trio members (Ralph Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums) some terrific solo time.

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

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Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Friday, January 27, 2021, is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

“In A Mellow Tone” was written in 1939 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. It 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 May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, with an arrangement by Ralph Burns. The recording gives everyone in the quartet a chance to shine: Ralph Sharon, piano; Gray Sargent, guitar; Paul Langosch, bass; and Clayton Cameron, drums. Wynton Marsalis is featured on trumpet.

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

We’ve got Ellington’s 1958 instrumental recording of today’s song, from his album Blues In Orbit. Featured musicians include Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, and Sam Woodyard.

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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.

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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.