The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Folks That Live On The Hill

The song of the day for Monday, November 13, 2017 is “The Folks That Live On The Hill.”

About This Song

This song was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1937 movie High, Wide, and Handsome, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Bing Crosby recorded it that same year. Peggy Lee recorded it 1957 for her album The Man I Love; it was conducted by Frank Sinatra. Other recordings include those by Diana Krall, Jo Stafford and Nina Simone. This song has a classic Kern melody and an even more classic Hammerstein lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Folks That Live On the Hill” in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

The Folks That Live On The Hill

Listen to The Folks That Live On The Hill on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1990


“The Folks That Live On The Hill,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 31, 2017 is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

Jerome Kern wrote “I Won’t Dance” in 1934 for a London musical called Three Sisters (with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and Otto Harbach), though the show was flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with the new Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “I Won’t Dance,” with the 1936 lyrics, for their album Cheek to Cheek. Marion Evans did the arrangement.

I Won"t Dance

Listen to I Won"t Dance on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“I Won’t Dance,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today marks the end of our recognition of Lady Gaga as our musical collaborator of the month. Stayed tuned tomorrow for a new person!

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Song of the Day: Nobody Else But Me

The song of the day for Monday, September 19, 2017 is “Nobody Else But Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody Else But Me” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1946 Broadway revival of Show Boat, replacing a reprise of “Why Do I Love You?” near the end of Act Two. It was the last song that Jerome Kern wrote; he died shortly before the 1946 production opened. This song has been used in other revivals of Show Boat as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nobody Else But Me” in 1964 for the album When Lights Are Low. The album features Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. Sharon wrote all the arrangements for this album.

Nobody Else But Me

Listen to Nobody Else But Me on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Nobody Else But Me,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 12, 2017 is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “All The Things You Are” for the 2015 album The Silver Lining – The Songs of Jerome Kern, with Bill Charlap. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

All The Things You Are

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“All The Things You Are,” as well as The Silver Lining – The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today we remember the remarkable Oscar Hammerstein, who was born on July 12, 1895 into a renowned theatrical family. In spite of that familial background, his father didn’t want his son to enter “the business,” and Oscar studied law at Columbia University. Thankfully, the call of the theater won and gave us one of America’s most distinguished lyricists and playwrights.

Hammerstein found early success with Jerome Kern and their 1927 Show Boat, which was a huge hit then and has spawned two film versions many significant revivals. (Show Boat was the first live musical your author saw. at Theater Under the Stars in Atlanta, Georgia starring Joe Brown as Captain Andy. I can trace my love of theater and the American songbook to that show–I couldn’t have been more than ten years old.) Hammerstein continued his association with Kern and they co-wrote many fine songs, including today’s song.

In 1943, Hammerstein found his second great collaborative partner: Richard Rodgers. Rodgers’s lyricist, Lorenz Hart, was suffering from severe alcoholism as Rodgers began work on the adaptation of the play Green Grow the Lilacs. Rodgers chose Hammerstein to work with him and the result was the groundbreaking musical Oklahoma. The pair went on write many musicals together: South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music, among others. They partnered until Hammerstein’s death in 1960 from stomach cancer.

Hammerstein was also a mentor to the young Stephen Sondheim, who was their neighbor in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Sondheim’s parents were separated and Hammerstein was a father to “Stevie.” In fact, it was Hammerstein who convinced Sondheim to write the lyrics for West Side Story.

The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to honor the memory of the great Oscar Hammerstein.

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Song of the Day: The Folks That Live On The Hill

The song of the day for Friday, January 27, 2017 is “The Folks That Live On The Hill.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “The Folks That Live On The Hill,” was written in 1937 by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1937 movie High, Wide, and Handsome, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Bing Crosby recorded it that same year. Peggy Lee recorded it 1957 for her album The Man I Love; it was conducted by Frank Sinatra. Other recordings include those by Diana Krall, Jo Stafford and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this lovely Jerome Kern song in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. The arrangement is by Jorge Callendrelli.

We feature this song today in honor of Jerome Kern, who was born on January 27, 1885. He left us an extraordinary gift of his music, including this beautiful song.

The Folks That Live On The Hill

Listen to The Folks That Live On The Hill on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1990


“The Folks That Live On The Hill,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from iTunes.