The song of the day for Sunday, February 15, 2026,is “That Old Black Magic.”
About Today
The great Harold Arlen was born 121 years ago on February 15, 1905. We’ll be celebrating Harold Arlen all week.
About This Song
“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. This song has been widely recorded, starting with Glenn, Miller’s 1942 recording. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis Jr., and many more. It was used in several films, including the 1952 movie Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live on August 28, 1962, in Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy had invited The Dave Brubeck Quartet and Tony Bennett, with Ralph Sharon Trio to perform for that year’s White House Presidential Scholars, which consisted of college-age students who wanted to serve their country. The concert was originally to be held in The White House Rose Garden, but wwas moved to The Mall, near the Washington Monument in order to accommodate the expected larger audience.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet played a set, followed by a set by Tony Bennett. After that, Tony Bennett joined Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello for a short improv session, which included “That Old Black Magic.”
The full concert was recorded by Columbia Records. However, the concert tapes were lost somewhere in the Columbia archives, and were only found after Brubeck’s death on December 5, 2012. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions was released on May 28, 2013.
“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.