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

The song of the day for Friday, May 3, 2024, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About Today

Tony Bennett’s album, The Art of Excellence, was released 38 years ago on May 3, 1986, and marked the beginning of the third stage of his career.

In his autobiography The Good Life, he said:

My new record would be called The Art of Excellence, referring not only to the songs, but also to my demand for quality. From that day forward people would expect nothing less from Tony Bennett.

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

The song This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). 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, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” on January 10, 1986, for The Art of Excellence. It was orchestrated and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.