The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Because Of You

On the seventh and final day of The Tony Bennett 90th Birthday Bash, August 6, 2016, our song of the day is “Because Of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Because Of You” in April 1951–some 65 years ago. I chose this song because it was such a turning point in Bennett’s career. His early recordings had done okay, but Columbia was concerned that their new singer hadn’t had a big, big hit yet. Bennett met with his arranged Percy Faith, who encouraged Tony Bennett to sing with his natural voice … very good advice. They were supposed to record four songs that day, but only had three ready to go. Percy Faith picked up the sheet music for “Because of You” and suggested they record it. The song reached number one on the Billboard Charts and stayed there for ten weeks.

Because of You

Listen to Because of You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011


“Because Of You,” as well as all the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today’s video is Tony Bennett singing today’s song, live in concert from 1991, with Ralph Sharon on piano. It’s just wonderful!

Thanks to all the readers of this blog for sharing and participating in The Tony Bennett 90th Birthday Bash. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

On the fifth day of The Tony Bennett 90th Birthday Bash and Mr. Bennett’s birthday, the song of the day for Thursday, July 4, 2016 is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About This Song

Written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, some say that “The Best is Yet to Come” was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, the song is strongly identified with him and he sings it at most of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Today we chose the original version of “The Best Is Yet To Come,” which he recorded 1960 and was released as a single that year. The arrangement is by none other than Cy Coleman, our songwriter of the month. That first little bit of the snare drum at the beginning hooks me immediately.

It is a perfect Tony Bennett song: it swings, it’s optimistic and lets him explore his full range. I never get tired of it.

The Best Is Yet To Come

Listen to The Best Is Yet To Come on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011


“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as all the singles collected on The Columbia Single,s Vol. 6, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Birthday Wishes Part 1

Barnes & Noble on Twitter

Wishing our good friend @itstonybennett a very Happy Birthday! #Tony90pic.twitter.com/y7QT9YzLrA

Amazon Music on Twitter

He’s been a shining light for 90 years. Happy birthday, @itstonybennett! #Tony90 http://amzn.to/2aTNSww pic.twitter.com/w5isKs6QvT

GMA Pop News on Twitter

WATCH: A look back at @itstonybennett’s life and career on his 90th birthday! #Tony90 http://abcn.ws/2avrbPX pic.twitter.com/P5JFPKh1iZ

Teahouse Records on Twitter

Happy 90th birthday to the wonderful Tony Bennett!! #Tony90 #StillGoingStrong #Jazz #Teaho… http://ift.tt/2av90GR pic.twitter.com/5aVs3CgJd5

Kim Mitchell on Twitter

Happy Birthday, Tony! You are a #livinglegend! #Tony90 #TonyBennettpic.twitter.com/HXWmrGaJdQ

Ben Jones on Twitter

Ladies and gentleman, be upstanding for the incredible, legendary #TonyBennett; 90 today! Voice of a god #Tony90pic.twitter.com/yZ35DVAomR

Apple on Twitter

AppleMusic: 90 Candles. 19 Grammys. 1 Legend. Happy Birthday itstonybennett! #Tony90 http://apple.co/2am3c2K pic.twitter.com/2cc9M2vAuJ

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

On Tony Bennett’s 90th birthday, the song of the day for August 3, 2016 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Douglass Cross and George Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, I Left My Heart in San Francisco started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Today, we honor Tony Bennet with the first, and truly wonderful, recording of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” recorded on January 23, 1962. It was soon released as a single and was the foundation for the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. The arrangement is by Marty Manning.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962


“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

About Today

I find highly appropriate to note that August 3 not only Tony Bennett’s birthday, but also that of composer of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco”: George Cory, who was born in San Francisco on August 3, 1920. He and his partner (romantic and professional) Douglass Cross were a pair of homesick, struggling songwriters living in New York when they wrote this song in 1953.

So today, we wish Tony Bennett a very happy birthday and remember George Cory on the 96th anniversary of his birth.