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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

July 7, 2018 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Sunday, July 8, 2018 is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was composed in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was first recorded by Paul Whiteman with Billie Holiday on vocals. It’s a wonderful, classic Mercer lyric and the tune is lovely. In addition to this recording, this song has been recorded by Anita O’Day, Peggy Lee, Queen Latifah, Shirley Horn and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in 1996 for his album of songs sung by Billie Holiday: Tony Bennett On Holiday. Mr. Bennett painted the portrait of Billie Holiday that appears on the album cover.

A reader on our sister site, The Interactive Tony Discography, sent me this comment, which I think of often:

I was surprised to discover that Tony Bennett’s tribute to Lady Day rang truer than all of the other attempts to politicize her, racialize her, or use her as a self-promotional “career stepping stone.” Tony captures the Lady of the Gardenias that struck Sinatra to the core when he first heard her in the late ’30s, causing him to list her as chief among all his inspirations and influences.

Trav"lin" Light

Listen to Trav"lin" Light on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.


“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

Billie Holiday’s 1942 version from with Paul Whitman is just wonderful.

Trav"lin Light

Listen to Trav"lin Light on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 1956.

Yes, I absolutely adore this song. I may be one of the few people who has a Trav’lin’ Light playlist in iTunes, with a dozen or so different recordings. But Tony’s and Billie’s 1942 version are my touchstones.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billie Holiday, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Trummy Young

April 30, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Thursday, April 30, 2015 is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Trav’lin’ Light,” was written by two musicians: Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy. Young was a trombonist who played with many of the great swing bands, including Earl Hines, Jimmie Lunceford and Benny Goodman. He also played with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in the mid-1940s and then joined the Louis Armstrong All-Stars in 1952, where he stayed until 1964. Jimmy Mundy played tenor saxophone in the same era and was also a noted arranger. Together, they wrote the melody for “Trav’lin’ Light” in 1942 with lyrics from Johnny Mercer. Billie Holiday made the first recording of this song, but it has been relatively widely recorded, by artists including Chet Baker, Carmen McRae, Queen Latifah, Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O’Day.

About This Version

I have to start out by saying that I absolutely adore this song. The first time I listened to Tony Bennett sing this song, I listened to it constantly for days. I may be one of the few people in the world who not only have a “Trav’lin’ Light” playlist on their iPod, but listen to it regularly. Tony Bennett’s recording of this song is one of the most beautiful songs he’s ever recorded. I hope you like it too.

Trav"lin" Light

Listen to Trav"lin" Light on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.


“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

About Billie Holiday’s Version

Billie Holiday recorded “” several times, beginning with the first recording of the song June 12, 1942 with the Paul Whitman Orchestra. I’m not always a huge fan on Whitman, but this recording is astounding. It was released as single and also as a V-disc. Mundy did the arrangement and Trummy Young played trombone on this recording. Lester Young also played on this recording.

Trav"lin Light

Listen to Trav"lin Light on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 1956.


“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Billie’s Blues, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day, Uncategorized Tagged With: Billie Holiday, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer, Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Tony Bennett On Holiday, Trummy Young

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