The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Waltz For Debby

The song of the day for Monday, March 16, 2026, is “Waltz For Debby.”

About This Song

“Waltz For Debby” was written by Bill Evans in 1956, soon after leaving the Army. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz For Debby” in June 1975 for The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album.

“Waltz For Debby,” as well as The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

Dear Mr. Bennett

The John Pizzarelli Trio (Pizzarelli on guitar and vocals, Michael Karn on bass, and Isaiah J. Thompson on piano) recorded “Waltz For Debby” for Dear Mr. Bennett, released in March 2026.

Dear Mr. Bennett is available for purchase on CD and vinyl at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tower Records, and other record stores. It is also available on most popular streaming services.

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Song of the Day: Waltz For Debby

The song of the day for Thursday, June 12, 2025, is “Waltz For Debby.”

About This Song

“Waltz For Debby” was written by Bill Evans in 1953, while still serving in the Army.. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees added later, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz For Debby” at their three-day recording session, June 10-13, 1975, for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Waltz For Debby, ” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

We have the live recording of “Waltz For Debby” from the Bill Evans Trio’s sessions at the Village Vanguard in June 1961, with Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. LaFaro was killed in an automobile accident just a month later, on July 6, 1961; he was only 25 years old. His death devastated Evans, who did not perform or record until October 1961. In spite of his tragically short career, Scott LaFaro was ranked 16th on Bass Player’s Magazine list of the top 100 bassists of all time.

Scott LaFaro

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Monday, December 2, 2024, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

We are remembering the great Adolph Green, who co-wrote today’s song with Leonard Bernstein and Betty Comden, who was born on December 2, 1914. He was a noted lyricist and playwright. Green met Betty Comden in 1938 and they formed a troupe called The Revuers; the other members were Leonard Bernstein and Judy Holliday. Comden and Green partnered with Leonard Bernstein to write the book and lyrics for On The Town, which opened in 1944. The pair wrote for many Broadway musicals, including Wonderful Town, Peter Pan, and Bells Are Ringing. They also wrote the script for Singin’ In The Rain.

Green, with Betty Comden, received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1991. Others honored that year were Fayard and Harold Nicholas, Roy Acuff, Gregory Peck, and Robert Shaw.

Adolph Green died on October 23, 2002.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1944 Broadway musical On The Town.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” in June 1975 for their album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Some Other Time,” as well as Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Days of Wine and Roses

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 11, 2024, is “Days of Wine and Roses.”

About Today

We’re continuing our look at The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, which was recorded June 10-13, 1975, at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Californai.

About This Song

“Days of Wine and Roses” was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer was written for the 1962 film of the same name, starring Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon. This movie is arguably the most powerful film ever made about alcoholism and the struggles of Remick and Lemmon to stop drinking. There are scenes in this film that I know I will never forget; it is a true masterpiece. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded in June 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Days of Wine and Roses,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: We’ll Be Together Again

The song of the day for Friday, November 23, 2023, is “We’ll Be Together Again.”

About This Song

“We’ll Be Together Again” was written by Carl T. Fischer in 1945, Frankie Laine’s pianist and musical director. Fischer asked Laine to write the lyrics, which he did quite nicely. In addition to the recording by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, this song has been recorded by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Frankie Laine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “We’ll Be Together Again” in June 1975 for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“We’ll Be Together Again,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.