Why this tune?
This week’s tune is a classic by the great American composer Hoagy Carmichael, born on Nov. 22, 1899. “The Nearness of You” is one of 50 (!) hit songs he wrote in a long career as a writer, pianist, singer and actor. Carmichael’s music supports Ned Washington’s lyric to create a sincere, romantic expression of love and desire.
Carmichael and Washington wrote the song in 1937 for a movie that was never produced. Glenn Miller made the song a hit in 1940, followed by almost 1000 recordings, two more of which made it to the Billboard Top 20. Carmichael’s songwriting career may have faded in the 1950s, but this song, like so many others he wrote, are still being performed and recorded today.
I chose to sing the melody on this track; a good opportunity to practice that skill.
Tunes On Tuesday Reel
Check it out!
My complete track
Nicole Zuraitis sings it beautifully
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and songwriter 