The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let The Good Times Roll

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 10, 2026, is “Let The Good Times Roll.”

About This Song

“Let The Good Times Roll” was written in 1946 by Sam Theard and Fleecie Moore. Louis Jordan, who was married to Fleecie Moore, made the first recording with his Tympany Five group, which was released in December 1946. It spent six months on the R&B Billboard chart. In 2009, “Let The Good times Roll” received a Hall of Fame award; in 2013, the Blues Foundation added to its Hall of Fame.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and B.B. King recorded “Let The Good Times Roll” on May 18, 2001, for the album Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

“Let The Good Times Roll,” as well as Let The Good Times Roll, is available on Apple Music.

We have the 1938 recording of “Let The Good Times Roll” by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five.

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Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 30, 2926, is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 film Blues in the Night, a noir film about a group of jazz musicians. Initially, Arlen was not enthusiastic about Mercer’s lyric. When they talked about it, Arlen noticed a phrase written in the margin: “My mamma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.” Arlen suggested he work on a new lyric and to start it with “My mamma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blues in the Night”in May 2001 Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the arrangement.

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

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

For the 1941 film Blues in the Night, baritone William Gillespie was hired to sing this song in the film, set in a jail cell, and is overheard by and inspires the musicians, who are all in another cell.

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimemtal

About Today

We are celebrating Kay Starr, Tony’s duet partner for today’s song, on the anniversary of her birth in Oklahoma on July 21, 1922. Kay loved to sing as a small child and won her first talent show at the age of 7. By then the family had moved to Dallas, Texas, where Kay found many opportunities to sing and earn money. She was discovered at the age of 15 by Joe Venuti and worked with Venuti for several years. Starr considered herself a jazz singer, but she also sang traditional pop, country, and Western swing music. She performed well into her 80s, including a stint in the revue 3 Girls, with Helen O’Connell and Margaret Whiting. She died in 2016 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, with Jerry Livingston and Mack David, and was originally recorded by The Count Basie Orchestra. It has since been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

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

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

We’ve got Kay Starr’s 1957 recording of “Blue and Sentimental.”

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 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. Jimmy Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, became prominent in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both active composers 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 “Good Morning Heartache” in 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

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

Don’t Cry Baby” was first recorded in 1929, with Bessie Smith on vocals, accompanied by James P. Johnson.

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Song of the Day: New York State of Mind

The song of the day for Saturday, January 17, 2026, is “New York State of Mind.”

About This Song

“New York State of Mind” was written by Billy Joel in 1976. It’s been recorded by many great artists, including Carmen McRae, Barbra Streisand, and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Billy Joel recorded “New York State of Mind” in June 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“New York State of Mind,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues is available on Apple Music.