50 years ago today one of the greatest pop recordings of all time was created. Tony Bennett recorded "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" at the legendary CBS studio in Manhattan on 30th Street. The song was originally written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross. Tony Bennett first sung the song in December of 1961 in San Francisco at the Venetian Room. With the advice of his long-term music director Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett entered the studio in January 1962 to record "I Left My Heart In San Francisco."
"I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was not an instant commercial success, but it ultimately reached #19 on the pop singles chart and spent nearly a year on the charts. The Grammy Awards presented the song with the awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Solo Performance. Since then the song has become one of the most recognized of all pop standards. San Francisco has adopted it as the city's official song.
Tony Bennett included a version of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" recorded with Judy Garland on a special edition of his first Duets album. This weekend, January 27, 2012, Tony Bennett will appear on PBS' Great Performances showing full performances of the songs from his #1 album Duets II. Check out the Judy Garland duet on "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" below.
- Watch Tony Bennett and Judy Garland sing "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"
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Album cover courtesy Columbia
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