The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, is “You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart.”

About This Song

“You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart” was written in 1931 by James P. Johnson and Flournoy Earkin Miller. Johnson, a pianist and composer who was also known as a Stride pianist, collaborated with author and producer Flournoy Miller to produce the Sugar Hill revue in 1931 for this song. Armstrong and Billie Holiday recorded “You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart” as a duet with Sy Oliver and His Orchestra in 1949 on the Decca label.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart” in March 2002 for A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were written by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Stormy Weather

The song of the day for Thursday, November 6, 2025, is “Stormy Weather.”

About This Song

“Stormy Weather” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1933. Written during Arlen’s association with Cotton Club, “Stormy Weather” was first sung by Ethel Waters at the Cotton Club in 1933. Lena Horne, who sang with Tony Bennett in the 1970s, recorded this song in 1941 and remains strongly associated with it. It has also been recorded by Kay Starr, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

“Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole recorded “Stormy Weather on June 26, 2001, for Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes arranged the vocals.

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

“Stormy Weather,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

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.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: What a Wonderful World

The song of the day for Monday, August 4, 2025, is “What a Wonderful World.”

About Today

We are celebrating the great Louis Armstrong, who was born 124 years ago on August 4, 1901.

About This Song

“What a Wonderful World” was written in 1967 by Bob Thiele (as George Douglas) and George David Weiss. Written at a time of great political and racial unrest in America, “What A Wonderful World” was a kind, gentle, and positive song that was very well received. Louis Armstrong recorded it first, and it was a big hit for him, selling over a million singles. Even though this song has been recorded by many fine artists, it remains closely identified with Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “What a Wonderful World” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements. Lee Musiker was the musical director and wrote the orchestra arrangements. Peter Matz conducted and did the orchestrations.

“What a Wonderful World,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Louis Armstrong’s 1967 recording of “What a Wonderful World.”

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wonder

The song of the day for Monday, June 23, 2025, is “I Wonder.”

About This Song

“I Wonder” was written in 1944 by Cecil Gant and Raymond Leveen. The song was first recorded by blues singer Cecil Gant, who as he was still serving in the Army just at the end of World War II, recorded as Pvt. Cecil Gant; the recording moved easily to #1 on Juke Box Race charts. In 1945, the Roosevelt Sykes recording replaced the Gant version as #1. Louis Armstrong recorded “I Wonder” in 1945, which reached #3 on the Juke Box chart. Aretha Franklin also recorded the song in 1967.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “I Wonder” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“I Wonder,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

We’re happy to include Louis Armstrong‘s 1945 recording of today’s song.

We’ve also got Cecil Gant’s original recording.