The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for is “Undecided Blues.”

About This Song

“Undecided Blues” was written in 1941 by blues shouter Jimmy Rushing (also known as Five-by-Five, due to his stature). Rushing was born in Oklahoma City into to a musical family; his father was trumpet player and his mother a singer. He started his career as an itinerant blues singer in the early 1920s. He sang with Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz orchestras before joining the Bennie Moten band in 1929. When Moten died in 1935, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, which was his home for many years. Rushing, with the Count Basie Orchestra, first recorded “Undecided Blues” in 1941.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Undecided Blues” in May 2001 for Playin With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues.

“Undecided Blues,” as well as Playin With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Jimmy Rushing singing “Undecided Blues.”

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Saturday, April 27, 2025, is “Don’t Cry Baby.”

About This Song

“Don’t Cry Baby” was written in 1929 by James P. Johnson, Saul Bernie and Stella Unger. Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, came into prominence in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both composers who were active in the 1920s. It was first sung by Bessie Smith in 1929. Erskine Hawkins recorded it in 1943; this version reached #1 on the Harlem Hit Parade in 1943 and #15 on the popular charts. Etta James recorded it in 1961 as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Cry Baby” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Don’t Cry Baby,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

This is the first recording of “Don’t Cry Baby” from 1929, featuring Bessie Smith on vocals and composer James P. Johnson on piano.

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Song of the Day: Let the Good Times Roll

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 16. 2025, is “Let the Good Times Roll.”

About Today

We are proud to honor B.B. King on the 100th anniversary of his birth on September 16, 1925, in Itta Bena, Mississippi.

You can learn more about The KIng of the Blues at bbking.com.

About This Song

“Let the Good Times Roll” was written in 1946 by Sam Theard and Fleecie Moore. Residents and visitors to New Orleans may be more familiar with the French version of the saying: Laissez le bon temps rouler. The first recording was in 1946 by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. The song charted well on the Billboard R&B charts. Other recordings include those by Ray Charles, George Fame and the Blue Flames, Muddy Waters, and Clifton Chenier. B.B King released an album dedicated to Louis Jordon: Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and B.B King recorded “Let the Good Times Roll” om May 8, 2001, for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Let the Good Times Roll,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s B.B. King’s recording of today’s song from Let The Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordon, ” released in 1999.

We also have the first recording of “Let the Good Times Roll” by Louis Jordon and His Tympany Five:

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Thursday, August 14, 2025, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

A Belated Birthday

We’re remembering the late Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922. Normally, we remember Tony Bennett’s collaborators on their birth date, but because July 21 also marked our remembrance of Tony Bennett on the anniversary of his passing, we skipped Kay Starr.

Kay Starr was a remarkable singer who sang songs in several genres: jazz, pop, blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll. Jazz was her primary calling. Her first professional job occurred when she was discovered by jazz violinist Joe Venuti when Starr was only 15 years old. Venuti was playing at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN, for the summer. Her parents allowed her to perform, as long as she was home by midnight. After she graduated from high school, she moved to Los Angeles to work with Joe Venuti.

You can learn more about Kay Starr on Wikipedia and All About Jazz.com.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, and Mack David. Recordings of the song include those by The King Cole Trio, The Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Catherine Russell.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

As a special treat, we’re including Kay Starr’s 1952 recording of “Wheel of Fortune,” which was a smash hit and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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Song of the Day: Let The Good Times Roll

The song of the day for Friday, May 9, 2025, is “Let The Good Times Roll.”

About This Song

“Let The Good Times Roll” was written in 1946 by Sam Theard and Fleecie Moore. This song, known as a “jump blues” song, was written by Sam Theard, a New Orleans singer and songwriter, with his wife, Fleecie Moore. Residents and visitors to New Orleans may be more familiar with the French version of the saying: Laissez le bon temps rouler. The first recording was in 1946 by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. The song charted well on the Billboard R&B chart. Other recordings include those by Ray Charles, George Fame and the Blue Flames, Muddy Waters and Clifton Chenier.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and B.B. King recorded “Let The Good Times Roll” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocals arrangement.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Let The Good Times Roll,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got a video of B.B. King singing today’s song live, from 1983: