The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, August 28, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was popular from the start, with recordings by Glenn Miller and Judy Garland in 1942. The song has been used in films and television, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe, and Star Trek Voyager, where it was sung by Jeri Ryan, portraying Seven of Nine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live 63 years ago on August 28, 1962. Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had both been invited by President John F. Kennedy to perform at a concert honoring that year’s group of summer interns. Originally, the concert was planned for the Rose Garden at the White House, but due to so much interest, it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on the Mall, near the Washington Monument.

Brubeck with his quartet (Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, Joe Morello on drums) opened the concert. Next was Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, Billy Exiner on drums) who performed. After Bernnett’s set, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett did an unplanned improv set, joined by Eugene Wright and Joe Morello.

The concert was taped, but over time it had become lost in the vaults. They were discovered, misfiled in the Classical Music section, in December 2012, just a few weeks after Dave Brubeck’s death. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was finally released in May 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett made a short video about the experience.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Saturday, January 2, 2020, is “That Old Black Magic.”

The Year of Tony Bennett is honoring bassist Eugene Wright, who died on December 30, 2020 at the age of 97. He was the last surving member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. When Brubeck asked Wright to join the quartet in 1958, he was warned that his quartet would not be allowed to play in certain venues, especially in the south, as Wright was black. At a Southern college performance, Brubeck was told they could play, but Gene Wright would not be allowed on the stage. Brubeck replied that if Wright couldn’t play, Brubeck wouldn’t play either. Brubeck played that night, with Wright on bass. The Dave Brubeck Quartet was one of the early pioneers in the fight against segregation in the late 1950s and 1960s.

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was also used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

On August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett, with his trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President Kennedy to perform at a thank-you concert for that year’s White House college interns. Originally, the concert was to be held in the Rose Garden, but there was so much buzz about the event it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on Mall, in the shadow of the Washington Monument.

The concert opened with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, featuring Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. Then, Tony Bennett sang, with Ralph Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

The musicians then decided to do an impromptu improv session, with Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello. Our song of the day, “That Old Black Magic,” comes from that session.

The concert was recorded by Frank Laico, but the tapes soon disappeared and were thought lost. Soon after Brubeck’s death in 2012, however, the tapes were found in the Classical archives at Sony/Columbia Records. The resulting album, Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, was released in May 2013.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available from Apple Music.

Here are Dave Brubeck, Joe Morello, and Eugene Wright in a clip in which Wright has a terrific solo.

The Wright Groove - Dave Brubeck Quartet - BBC Jazz 625 (1964)

The quartet is made up of Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 28, 2019, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

One of the great songs by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 and first recorded by Glenn Miller. It was used in the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

On August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio and the Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President John F. Kennedy to present a concert to thank all of the White House college interns. Initially, the concert was to bed held in the Rose Garden, but so much interest was generated about this concert that it was moved to the outdoor Sylvan Theatre at the base of the Washington Monument.

The evening started with five songs performed by The Dave Brubeck Quartet, consisting of Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. This was followed by six songs performed by Tony Bennett with The Ralph Sharon Trio, consisting of Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

After his set, Bennett returned to the stage with Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello for an improvised and completely unrehearsed set. The highlight of this set (well, for me anyway) was their performance of “That Old Black Magic.”

For many years, the tapes from this concert were thought to be lost. Not long after Brubeck’s death in 2012, the tapes were found (misfiled in the classical music archives at Columbia), resulting in the 2013 release of Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962. Both performers were incredibly popular: Bennett had wowed the critics just a few weeks earlier with his legendary performance at Carnegie Hall on June 29; Brubeck, having recently found incredible success with his song “Take Five,” was busy recording and performing. This album was a rare opportunity to hear both their rehearsed sets as well as their impeccable improvisations.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Session, Live 1962, is available from iTunes.