The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Thursday, October 15, 2026, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Bill Charlap a very happy birthday. He was born in New York on October 15, 1966. His father, Moose Charlap, was a noted Broadway composer; his mother, Sandy Stewart, a singer. You can learn more about Mr. Charlap at his website Bill Charlap.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 Fred Astaire film Swing Time. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 1936. Dorothy Fields said this about “The Way You Look Tonight.”

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. For this song, Bennett is accompanied by Bill Charlap on piano, with no other instruments. Charlap produced the album and wrote the arrangements.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy Award at the 58th annual Grammy Awards.

“The You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Song is You

The song of the day for Sunday, July 12, 2026, is “The Song is You.”

About Today

Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was born on July 12, 1895 in Harlem. He is mostly known as a lyricist, but was also a librettist, theatrical producer, and musical theater director. Even though he was born to a prominent theatrical family, his father did not want his son to pursue theatre as a career; thus Hammerstein attended Columbia University to study law. After his father died, he began perform in and write for the school’s Varsity shows. In his early years, he collaborated with songwriters, such as Jerome Kern, with whom he wrote the 1927 musical Show Boat. He is best known for his work with Richard Rodgers, beginning with the revolutionary 1943 musical Oklahoma! (which ran for 2,212 performances, closing in 1948), followed by the 1945 Carousel, which ran for 890 performances. In his work with Richard Rodgers, they won 34 Tony Awards, fifteen Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes (for Oklahoma! and South Pacific), and two Grammy Awards.

Note that Oscar Hammerstein is the only person named Oscar to receive an Oscar from the Academy Awards.

Hammerstein is also known as a mentor to Stephen Sondheim, who was a friend Hammerstein’s son James. Sondheim had written a musical while in high school, called By George! Sondheim asked Hammerstein to critique his show as if Sondheim was a professional. Thus began a years-long mentorship that lasted until Hammerstein’s death in 1960.

If interested, the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization is a great place to start and learn more about Oscar Hammerstein.

About This Song

“The Song is You” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for their 1932 musical Music in the Air. Alec Wilder wrote in American Popular Song that the song “attempts too dramatic a statement on too small a stage […] it suggests a grander voice than that usually associated with popular theater music”, but that it nonetheless possesses a “superior quality” as a composition, with a “masterful” release containing “brilliant” harmony and melody.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Song is You” for his 2015 album with Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.  Bennett was accompanied by Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes on dual pianos for this song.

“The Song is You,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Old Fashioned

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 17, 2026 is “I’m Old Fashioned.”

About This Song

“I’m Old Fashioned” was written by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film You Were Never Lovelier, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. Astaire recorded the song first, in 1942 with John Scott Trotter and his orchestra. Other significant recordings include those by Blossom Dearie, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, John Coltrane, and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Bill Charlap Trio, recorded “I’m Old Fashioned” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement and led his trio on piano. The trio includes Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“I’m Old Fashioned,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred AStaire and Rita Hayworth performing “I’m Old Fashioned” from You Were Never Lovelier.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, January 31, 2026, is “The Way Look Tonight.”

Today’s song marks the end of Jerome Kern Week at The Year of Tony Bennett. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire; the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields said about the song:

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.”

Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Song Is You

The song of the day for Friday, January 30, 2026, is “The Song Is You.”

About This Song

“The Song Is You” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1932 musical Music In The Air. It has been widely recorded and is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it with Tommy Dorsey.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, accompanied by Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes, recorded “The Song Is You” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement and co-produced the album.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“The Song Is You,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.