"To You" is a 1939 song composed by

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

with

Benny Davis Benny Davis (August 21, 1895 - December 20, 1979) was a vaudeville performer and writer of popular songs. Biography Davis started performing in vaudeville in his teens. He began writing songs when working as an accompanist for Blossom Seeley. In ...

and

Ted Shapiro Ted Shapiro (October 31, 1899 – May 26, 1980) was a United States popular music composer, pianist, and sheet music publisher. Early life Shapiro was born on October 31, 1899 in New York City. He became a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and accompa ...

. The song was a top 10 hit on the ''Billboard'' charts.

Other recordings

"To You" was recorded by

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

and His Orchestra with vocals by

Ray Eberle Raymond Eberle (January 19, 1919 – August 25, 1979) was a vocalist during the Big Band Era, making his name with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. His elder brother, Bob Eberly, sang with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Career Eberle was born in Mech ...

and released as an RCA Bluebird 78. Glenn Miller also performed the song at the 1939

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

Concert, which was released in 1958 by RCA Victor on the album '' The Glenn Miller Carnegie Hall Concert''. "To You" appeared as part of a medley by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, paired with "Stairway to the Stars", both sung by Ray Eberle at the live performance at Carnegie Hall on October 6, 1939. Glenn Miller recorded "To You" for Bluebird records on May 9, 1939 released as Bluebird 10276-B, with the "A" side, "Stairway To The Stars" both sung by Ray Eberle.

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

and

Paul Whiteman Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist. As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 1930s, ...

also recorded the song with Joan Edwards on vocals. The song was featured by

Harry Richman Harry Richman (born Henry Reichman Jr.; August 10, 1895 – November 3, 1972) was an American singer, actor, dancer, comedian, pianist, songwriter, bandleader, and nightclub performer, at his most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In his peak yea ...

in the International Casino Revue ''Hello Beautiful'' in 1939.

Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized ...

recorded the song with

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

on vocals.

''Billboard'' charts

Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra released the song as an A side RCA Victor 78 single in 1939, 26234-A. According to the tsort.info database, "To You" reached no. 10 on the ''Billboard'' chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.

References

Sources

* Flower, John. ''Moonlight Serenade: A Bio-discography of the Glenn Miller Civilian Band''. Arlington House, New Rochelle, 1972, p. 63 * Levinson, Peter J. ''Tommy Dorsey: Livin' in a Great Big Way: a Biography''. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2005. * Stockdale. Robert L. ''Tommy Dorsey: On The Side''. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, 1995.

External links

Online versions of the 1939 recordings by Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller on the Jazz Anthology website.
1939 songs Tommy Dorsey songs Songs written by Tommy Dorsey Songs written by Ted Shapiro Songs written by Benny Davis {{1930s-jazz-composition-stub