THE SONG IS YOU

Music: Jerome Kern- Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Year: 1932

Prelude to a kiss-clasicos del jazz-standards jazz

Origin of the song

On 8 November 1932, the play Music in the Air was premiered at the Alvin Theatre in New York, with music by Jerome Kern and libretto and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. In the second, Tullio Carminati played ‘The Song Is You’. Another song from the show, ‘I've Told Ev'ry Little Star’, also became very popular. Three hundred and forty-two representations were given, but had to be suspended because of the economic crisis caused by the Depression and various problems with the unions.

On 13 December 1934, the film version of the work, Music in the Air, premiered in the US. Produced by Fox Film Corporation, it was directed by Joe May and starring Gloria Swanson, John Boles, Douglass Montgomery, June Lang and Reginald Owen. In the film, John Boles sang ‘The Song is You’.

Among the numerous songs composed by Kern and Hammerstein II are ‘Who’ (1925), ‘Ol' Man River’ (1927), ’Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man’ (1927), ‘Why Do I Love You?’ (1927), ‘Make Believe’ (1927), ‘Why Was I Born’ (1929), ‘The Folks Who Live on the Hill’ (1937), ‘All the Things You Are’ (1939) and ‘Nobody Else but Me’ (1946).

Versions in the top charts

PERFORMERS	DATE OF RECORDING	DAY OF ENTRANCE	PERMANENCE WEEKS	HIGH POSITION REACHED
Jack Denny Orchestra	1932.11.11	1932.12.31	4	12	Paul Small (voc)

Jazz. Outstanding performances

Instrumental

PERFORMERS	DATE OF RECORDING	MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
Stan Getz Quintet	1951.10.28	Stan Getz (ts), Al Haig (p), Jimmy Raney (g), Teddy Kotick (b), Tiny Kahn (d)
Charlie Parker Quartet	1952.12.30	Charlie Parker (as), Hank Jones (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Max Roach (d)
Oscar Peterson Trio	1953.12.07	Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (g), Ray Brown (b)
Dave Brubeck Quartet	1954.05.??	Paul Desmond (as), Dave Brubeck (p), Bob Bates (b), Joe Dodge (d)
Benny Carter & Oscar Peterson Trio	1954.09.04	Benny Carter (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d)
Jimmy Giuffre Trio	1956.12.03	Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Jim Hall (g), Ralph Peña (b)
Art Blakey Quartet	1963.09.05	Sonny Stitt (as, ts), McCoy Tyner (p), Art Davis (b), Art Blakey (d)
Joe Pass	1973.08.28	Joe Pass (g)
Keith Jarrett Trio	1986.07.13	Keith Jarrett (p), Gary Peacock (b), Jack DeJohnette (d)
Wynton Marsalis Quartet	1986.09.25	Wynton Marsalis (tp), Marcus Roberts (p), Robert Leslie Hurst III (b), Jeff 'Tain' Watts (d)
Benny Green Quintet	1988.02.22	Benny Green (p), Terence Blanchard (tp), Javon Jackson (ts), Peter Washington (b), Tony Reedus (d)
Walter Norris	1990.04.??	Walter Norris (p)
Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau & Charlie Haden	1996.11.21	Lee Konitz (as), Brad Mehldau (p), Charlie Haden (d)
Niels- Henning Ørsted Pedersen Trio	1999.03.24	Niels- Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Ulf Wakenius (g), Jonas Johansen (d)
Ralph Sharon Trio	2001.??.??	Ralph Sharon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Jack Parnell (d)

Vocal

PERFORMERS	DATE OF RECORDING	MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
Frank Sinatra	1942.01.19	Frank Sinatra (voc), Axel Stordahl Orchestra
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	1942.09.03	Tommy Dorsey (tb, dir), Ziggy Elman, Jimmy Zito, Jimmy Blake, Ray Linn (tp), George Arus, Dave Jacobs, Jimmy Skiles (tb), Fred Stulce, Vincent Yocum (as), Heinie Beau (cl, ts), Don Lodice (ts), Harry Schuchman (as, bars), Milt Raskin (p), Clark Yocum (g), Phil Stephen (b), Buddy Rich (d), Frank Sinatra (voc)
Teri Thornton	1961.01.10	Teri Thornton (voc), Clark Terry (tpa, tp), Britt Woodman (tb), Earl Warren (as), Seldon Powell (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Sam Herman (g), Sam Jones (b), Jimmy Cobb (d)
Nancy Wilson	1963.10.08	Nancy Wilson (voc), Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Frank Sinatra	1979.09.18	Frank Sinatra (voc), Billy May Orchestra
Mel Tormé with Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass	1986.05.??	Mel Tormé (voc), Rob McConnell (vtb, dir), Arnie Chycoski, Steve McDade, Guido Basso, Kevin Turkott, John McLeod (tp, fis), Alaistair Kay, Bob Livingston, Jerry Johnson, Ernie Pattison (tb), Gary Pattison, James MacDonald (tpa), Moe Koffman, John Johnson (ss, as, cl, fl), Alex Dean (ts, cl, fl), Rick Wilkins (ts, cl), Robert Leonard (cl, bars, fl), David Restivo (p), Reg Schwager (g), Jim Vivian (b), Ted Warren (d), Brian Leonard (per)

On cinemas

The song 'The Song Is You' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:

ORIGINAL TITLE	TITLE IN SPAIN	YEAR OF PRODUCTION	PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM
Husbands And Wives	Maridos y mujeres	1992	Bernie Leighton