album · November 26, 1962

I Wanna Be Around / I Will Live My Life for You

Tony Bennett

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Columbia/LegacySee this day

popsinger-songwriter

This 1962 single featured Bennett tackling the standard "I Wanna Be Around" and the lesser-known "I Will Live My Life for You."

• "I Wanna Be Around" was written by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.
• The single was a double-sided hit, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
• Bennett would revisit "I Wanna Be Around" throughout his career, often including it in live sets.

Tony Bennett is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. He was a master of the great American songbook and remained a vital live performer well into his nineties. At the time of this 1962 single, Bennett was firmly established as a major Columbia Records artist, having already scored numerous hits including "Stranger in Paradise" and "Because of You."