The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Moonglow

The song of the day for Friday, December 5, 2025, is “Moonglow.”

About This Song

“Moonglow” was written in 1933 by Will Hudson, Irving Mills, and Eddie DeLange. The song has been popular since it was written. The first recordings were by Joe Venuti and His Orchestra, Ethel Waters, and The Benny Goodman Orchestra. Later recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Artie Shaw.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Moonglow” live on April 12, 1994, for the television program MTV Unplugged. The resulting album, MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett, was released on June 28, 1994. Bennett appeared with his trio: Ralph Sharon (piano), Doug Richeson (bass), and Clayton Cameron (drums).

“Moonglow,” as well as MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, June 28, 2025, is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About Today

In Spring 1994, Tony Bennett appeared on MTV Unplugged. The recording of Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged was released 31 years ago on June 28, 1994. The album won two Grammy Awards: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and the highly coveted Album Of The Year.

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. The song was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song to “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard, and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fly Me To The Moon” on April 12, 1994, for broadcast on MTV. The album of the concert, Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, was released a few months later.

Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged won two 1994 Grammy Awards: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Album Of The Year/

“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, is available on Apple Music.

We have the video of Tony Bennett’s “Fly Me To The Moon” from the MTV broadcast.

And here is Tony Bennett singing “Fly Me To The Moon” at his last concert, with Lady Gaga, at Radio City Music Hall in 2001.

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Song of the Day: You’re All the World to Me

The song of the day for Friday, February 28, 2025, is “You’re All the World to Me.”

About This Song

“You’re All the World to Me” was written by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 MGM musical Royal Wedding, starring Fred Astaire. Astaire performed this song in one of the most famous shots in all of musical film: the dancing on the ceiling number.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You’re All the World to Me” live on April 12, 1994, for his appearance on Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged. The songs from the televised concert were arranged by Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio.

Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged won two 1994 Grammy Awards: Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“You’re All the World to Me,” as well as Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, is available on Apple Music.

And, of course, the dancing on the ceiling dance number.