The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep the Music Playing

The song of the day for Saturday, October 28, 2017 is “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” in 1986 for The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, we have the wonderful duet of today’s song with Tony and Aretha Franklin, as the recorded this song in Detroit for Duets II.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Saturday, June 17, 2017 is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was written for the movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Tony Bennett’s first recording of “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” from his 1986 album The Art of Excellence. And an excellent album it was!

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as Duets II, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, I’m happy to feature one of Bennett’s greatest duet performances. Tony and Aretha Franklin sing “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.”

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Song of the Day: Everybody Has The Blues

The song of the day for Friday, September 23, 2016 is “Everybody Has The Blues.”

About This Song

James Taylor wrote “Everybody Has the Blues” in 1976. Taylor is one of America’s great singer-songwriters of the last fifty years. In addition to “Everybody Has the Blues,” his songs include “You’ve Got a Friend” and “Carolina In My Mind.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ray Charles recorded this duet in 1985 for Bennett’s album The Art of Excellence.

Everybody Has The Blues

Listen to Everybody Has The Blues on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“Everybody Has The Blues,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to dedicate today’s song to the late Ray Charles, who was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia and raised in Greenville, Florida. Charles attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine from 1937 to 1945, which is where he developed his love of and talent for music. He came into prominence in the 1950s as a soul music artist. He wrote and recorded steadily throughout his career and until his death in 2004.

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Song of the Day: Everybody Has The Blues

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 19, 2016 is “Everybody Has The Blues.”

About This Song

James Taylor, who wrote “Everybody Has the Blues” in 1976, is one of America’s great singer-songwriters of the last 45 years. In addition to “Everybody Has the Blues,” his songs include “You’ve Got a Friend” and “Carolina In My Mind.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Everybody Has The Blues” with Ray Charles in 1985 for Bennett’s The Art of Excellence.

Everybody Has The Blues

Listen to Everybody Has The Blues on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“Everybody Has The Blues,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Got Lost in Her Arms

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 11, 2016 is “I Got Lost in Her Arms.”

About This I Got Lost in Her Arms

Today’s song from Irving Berlin’s wonderful 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, which starred Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton. The song’s actual title is “I Got Lost in His Arms” and was introduced by Miss Merman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this beautiful version of today’s song in 1986 for The Art of Excellence. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

I Got Lost In Her Arms

Listen to I Got Lost In Her Arms on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1986


“I Got Lost in Her Arms,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today marks the 128th anniversary of the birth of Irving Berlin, who was born as Israel Isidore Baline in Tyumen, Russia. He wrote some of the great American songs, songs that will never become unpopular: “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and many, many more.

We love this quote from Jerome Kern:

Irving Berlin has no place in American music–he is American music.