• 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

February 15, 2023 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Thursday, February 16, 2023, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murdeb for the Motown Record’s Jobete publishing company. This song not only found success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder recorded “For Once in My Life” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

The recording won the 49th Annual Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals in 2007.

“For Once In My Life,” as well as Duets: An American Classic is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duets: An American Classic, Jorge Calandrelli, Orlando Murden, Ron Miller, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett

February 11, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Friday, February 12, 2021, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Record’s Jobete publising company. This song not only found a success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “For Once In My Life” with Stevie Wonder in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder)

Listen to For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2006.

“For Once In My Life” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duets: An American Classic, Jorge Callandrelli, Orlando Murden, Ron Miller, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett

June 7, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Monday, June 8, 2020, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written in 1967 by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden. The song was written for the Motown Record’s Jobete publishing company. This song not only found success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s original recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennet and Stevie Wonder recorded “For Once In My Life” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“For Once In My Life,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duets: An American Classic, Jorge Calandrelli, Orlando Murden, Ron Miller, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett

August 9, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Saturday, August 10, 2019, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written in 1967 by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for the Motown Record’s Jobete publishing company. This song not only found success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “For Once In My Life” in 1967 for the album For Once In My Life. The arrangement was written by Torrie Zito.

For Once In My Life

Listen to For Once In My Life on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1967.

“For Once In My Life,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: For Once In My Life, Orlando Murden, Ron Miller, Tony Bennett, Torrie Zito

February 19, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Thursday, February 19, 2015 is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written in 1967 by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden. The song was written for the Motown Record’s Jobete publising company. This song not only found a success as a Motown song, with the recording by Stevie Wonder, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

While Tony Bennett first recorded today’s song in 1967 for his album of the same name, today’s version is from his 2006 album Duets: An American Classic and is sung with Stevie Wonder, who also plays harmonica on the recording. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder)

Listen to For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2006.

“For Once In My Life,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Last Sunday evening, February 15, 2015, Tony Bennett appeared as a guest on the Grammy-produced tribute to Wonder: Stevie Wonder — Songs in the Key of Life. I didn’t get a chance to watch it Sunday, but had recorded it for later viewing. I was on Twitter Sunday and all of a sudden, Twitter exploded with tweets about Tony’s performance singing this song on the show:

Aside from the Legendary Master himself, #StevieWonder, the Living Legend @itstonybennett gave thee best performance of the night…COLD!!

— Vera G. (@vivaciousvdelor) February 18, 2015

Still dreaming about Tony Bennett's rendition of "For Once In My Life" at the Stevie Wonder Tribute. I mean…that was gospel! So good!

— Meocha Belle (@MeochaBelle) February 18, 2015

@itstonybennett absolutely slayed his rendition of "For Once in My Life"…had me in tears!!!! Is it available on iTunes? #StevieWonder

— Kakes By Kem (@KakesByKem) February 17, 2015

So, I finally found some time to watch this show and these viewers were right … Tony was superb. I’ve heard him sing this song live before, but this performance was absolutely riveting! If you have a chance to catch it, please do. In the meantime, here’s a video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song at The White House for President and Mrs. Obama in 2009. Note Esperanza Spaulding on bass!

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Orlando Murden, Ron Miller, Stevie Wonder

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

  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Song of the Day: The Good Life
  • Rest in Peace, Kay Starr
  • Song of the Day: You Must Believe in Spring
  • Song of the Day: Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2023 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress