The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Got Rhythm

The song of the day for Monday, June 3, 2024, is “I Got Rhythm.”

About This Song

“I Got Rhythm” was written in 1928 by George and Ira Gershwin. George Gershwin originally wrote this song with a slow tempo for the 1928 musical Treasure Girl. In 1930 for Girl Crazy, he decided on a faster rhythm. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman and became wildly popular based on her performance. Artists including Miss Merman, Fred Astaire, John Pizzarelli, and Ethel Waters have recorded it many times. It’s one of the great jazz standards.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Got Rhythm” live on September 15, 2016, at Radio City Music Hall at a special concert to celebrate Bennett’s 90th birthday, at which friends and collaborators sang songs that Tony had recorded as well as a set by Bennett. Highlights from the celebration were released on the album Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.

“I Got Rhythm,” as well as Tony Bennett Celebrates 90, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Got Rhythm

The song of the day for Thursday, December 7, 2023, is “I Got Rhythm.”

About This Song

“I Got Rhythm” was written in 1928 by George and Ira Gershwin. Gershwin originally wrote this song with a slow tempo for the 1928 musical Treasure Girl. In 1930 for Girl Crazy, he decided on a faster rhythm. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman and became wildly popular based on her performance. Artists including Miss Merman, Fred Astaire, John Pizzarelli, and Ethel Waters have recorded it many times. It’s one of the great jazz standards.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I Got Rhythm” live on September 15, 2016, for his 90th birthday celebration, which resulted in Tony Bennett Celebrates 90, which includes performances by guest stars such as Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Elton John, and k.d. lang, as well as Tony Bennett singing live.

“I Got Rhythm,” as well as Tony Bennett Celebrates 90, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 1, 2023, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some say that the song was written for Tony Bennett; in any case, it’s strongly identified with him and he regularly sang it at all of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Best Is Yet To Come” on September 15, 2016, at his 90th birthday concert. Bennett’s live performances, as well as the songs sung by the many guest artists, were released on the album Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.

Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as Tony Bennett Celebrates 90, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Monday, March 13, 2023, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the 1982 movie Best Friends. 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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” live on September 15, 2016, at Radio Center Music Hall for a celebration of his 90th birthday. An album of the celebration was released as Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Mr. Bennett singing “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” from the concert:

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

The song of the day for Sunday, March 12, 2023, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

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. Cross and 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 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

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” live on September 15, 2016, at a concert at Radio City Music Hall celebrating his 90th birthday. The songs from that concert were released in 2016 on Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 is available on Apple Music.

We are very happy to present the video from Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: