I Left My Heart in San Francisco - wikipedia I Left My Heart in San Francisco For the album, see I Left My Heart in San Francisco ( album ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2016 ) `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' Single by Tony Bennett A-side `` Once Upon a Time '' B - side `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' Released February 2, 1962 Format 7 - inch single Recorded January 23, 1962 Genre Traditional pop Length 2 : 52 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) George Cory, Douglass Cross Producer ( s ) Ernie Altschuler Tony Bennett singles chronology `` Till '' ( 1961 ) `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' ( 1962 ) `` I Wanna Be Around '' ( 1962 ) `` I Left My Heart In San Francisco '' Tony Bennett 's `` I Left My Heart In San Francisco '' Problems playing this file ? See media help. `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' is a popular song, written in the fall of 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, with music by George Cory and lyrics by Douglass Cross ( 1920 -- 1975 ) and best known as the signature song of Tony Bennett. In 1962, the song was released as a single by Bennett on Columbia Records as the b - side to `` Once Upon a Time, '' peaked at # 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also included on the album of the same name. It also reached number seven on the Easy Listening chart. The song is one of the official anthems for the city of San Francisco. In 2018, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being `` culturally, historically, or artistically significant. '' Contents 1 Background 2 Recording and legacy 3 Notes 4 External links Background The music was written by Cory, with lyrics by Cross, about two amateur writers nostalgic for San Francisco after moving to New York. Although the song was originally written for Claramae Turner, who often used it as an encore, she never got around to recording it. The song found its way to Tony Bennett through Ralph Sharon, Bennett 's longtime accompanist and friends with the composers. Sharon brought the music along when he and Bennett were on tour and on their way to San Francisco 's Fairmont Hotel. Prior to Tony Bennett hearing it, the song was pitched to Tennessee Ernie Ford, whom Claramae Turner suggested Cross take it to. Ford turned the song down. In December 1961, in the famous `` Venetian Room '' at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, Tony Bennett first sang `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco ''. In the audience that night were San Francisco mayor George Christopher and future mayor Joseph L. Alioto. From the 1960s through the 1980s, at San Francisco 's premier supper club the `` Venetian Room, '' Bennett sang the city song. Recording and legacy Bennett first recorded the song at CBS Studios on 30th Street on January 23, 1962 ; CBS released it as the b - side of `` Once Upon A Time. '' The A-side received no attention, and DJs began flipping the record over and playing `` San Francisco. '' It became a hit on the pop singles chart in 1962 and spent close to a year on various other charts, achieving gold record status. It then won the top prize of Grammy Award for Record of the Year, as well as for Best Male Solo Vocal Performance. In 2001 it was ranked 23rd on an RIAA / NEA list of the most historically significant Songs of the 20th Century. It has often been performed in public by Bennett in concert as well as on special occasions. A statue of Tony Bennett was unveiled outside the Fairmont Hotel on 19 August 2016, in honor of his 90th birthday, the hotel performance, and the song 's history with San Francisco. Bennett has said of the song, That song helped make me a world citizen. It allowed me to live, work and sing in any city on the globe. It changed my whole life. The Songwriters Hall of Fame gave Bennett the `` Towering Performance Award '' for his vocal rendition of the song. A version by rhythm and blues singer Bobby Womack peaked at # 48 on the Billboard R&B singles chart in 1969. Also in 1969, the song was adopted by the City and County of San Francisco as one of its two official anthems, the other being the title song from the 1936 film San Francisco ( 1936 film ). Notes Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 27. Jump up ^ `` National Recording Registry Reaches 500 ''. Library of Congress. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Turner, Steve ( January 4, 2010 ). `` I left my heart in San Francisco : Touring the vibrant city that inspired a song ''. Daily Mail ( Mail Online ). Retrieved 23 September 2010. Jump up ^ `` The Fairmont Hotel Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Tony Bennett 's First Performance of `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' ``. 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2015. Jump up ^ Gary Mamorstein. The Label : The Story of Columbia Records. New York `` : Thunder 's Mouth Press, 2007. p. 375. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 08 - 20. Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ `` 2003 Award and Induction Ceremony Induction Ceremonies ''. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. External links I Left My Heart In San Francisco Songfacts Interview with Ralph Sharon Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ( Volare ) '' by Domenico Modugno ( 1959 ) `` Mack the Knife '' by Bobby Darin ( 1960 ) `` Theme from A Summer Place '' by Percy Faith ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' by Henry Mancini ( 1962 ) `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' by Tony Bennett ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' by Henry Mancini ( 1964 ) `` The Girl from Ipanema '' by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz ( 1965 ) `` A Taste of Honey '' by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass ( 1966 ) `` Strangers in the Night '' by Frank Sinatra ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up and Away '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1968 ) `` Mrs. Robinson '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1969 ) `` Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1971 ) `` It 's Too Late '' by Carole King ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' by Roberta Flack ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' by Roberta Flack ( 1974 ) `` I Honestly Love You '' by Olivia Newton - John ( 1975 ) `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' by Captain & Tennille ( Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille ) ( 1976 ) `` This Masquerade '' by George Benson ( 1977 ) `` Hotel California '' by Eagles ( Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' by Billy Joel ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' by The Doobie Brothers ( Jeffrey Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' by Christopher Cross ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' by Kim Carnes ( 1982 ) `` Rosanna '' by Toto ( Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Steve Porcaro ) ( 1983 ) `` Beat It '' by Michael Jackson ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' by Tina Turner ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' by USA for Africa ( 1986 ) `` Higher Love '' by Steve Winwood ( 1987 ) `` Graceland '' by Paul Simon ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' by Bobby McFerrin ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' by Bette Midler ( 1990 ) `` Another Day in Paradise '' by Phil Collins ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' by Eric Clapton ( 1993 ) `` I Will Always Love You '' by Whitney Houston ( 1994 ) `` All I Wanna Do '' by Sheryl Crow ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' by Seal ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' by Eric Clapton ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' by Shawn Colvin ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' by Celine Dion ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' by Santana ( Rodney Holmes, Tony Lindsay, Karl Perazzo, Raul Rekow, Benny Rietveld, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson ) featuring Rob Thomas ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2001 ) `` Walk On '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' by Norah Jones ( 2003 ) `` Clocks '' by Coldplay ( Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion, Phil Harvey, Chris Martin ) ( 2004 ) `` Here We Go Again '' by Ray Charles and Norah Jones ( 2005 ) `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' by Green Day ( Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Frank Edwin Wright III ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' by Dixie Chicks ( Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' by Amy Winehouse ( 2008 ) `` Please Read the Letter '' by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant ( 2009 ) `` Use Somebody '' by Kings of Leon ( Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' by Lady Antebellum ( Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' by Adele ( 2012 ) `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' by Gotye featuring Kimbra ( 2013 ) `` Get Lucky '' by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) by Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` Uptown Funk '' by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' by Adele ( 2017 ) `` 24K Magic '' by Bruno Mars ( 2018 ) Tony Bennett Studio albums Because of You Cloud 7 Alone at Last with Tony Bennett Tony The Beat of My Heart Long Ago and Far Away Strike Up the Band Hometown, My Town To My Wonderful One Tony Sings for Two Alone Together Sings a String of Harold Arlen My Heart Sings I Left My Heart in San Francisco I Wanna Be Around... This Is All I Ask The Many Moods of Tony When Lights Are Low Who Can I Turn To If I Ruled the World : Songs for the Jet Set The Movie Song Album Tony Makes It Happen For Once in My Life Snowfall : The Tony Bennett Christmas Album I 've Gotta Be Me Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today ! Tony Bennett 's `` Something '' Love Story Summer of ' 42 With Love The Good Things in Life The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album Life Is Beautiful Together Again The Art of Excellence Bennett / Berlin Astoria : Portrait of the Artist Perfectly Frank Steppin ' Out Here 's to the Ladies Tony Bennett on Holiday Tony Bennett : The Playground Bennett Sings Ellington : Hot & Cool Playin ' with My Friends : Bennett Sings the Blues A Wonderful World The Art of Romance Duets : An American Classic A Swingin ' Christmas ( Featuring The Count Basie Big Band ) Duets II Viva Duets Cheek to Cheek The Silver Lining : The Songs of Jerome Kern Love Is Here to Stay Live albums Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall MTV Unplugged Compilation albums Mr. Broadway : Tony 's Greatest Broadway Hits A Time for Love The Essential Tony Bennett Singles `` Because of You '' `` Rags to Riches '' `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' `` Body and Soul '' `` Just in Time '' `` Living Together, Growing Together '' `` The Lady Is a Tramp '' `` Do n't Get Around Much Anymore '' `` Anything Goes '' `` I Ca n't Give You Anything but Love, Baby '' Related Discography The Zen of Bennett Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga : Cheek to Cheek Live ! Cheek to Cheek Tour Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 : The Best Is Yet to Come Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Left_My_Heart_in_San_Francisco&oldid=853215058 '' Categories : 1954 songs 1962 singles Tony Bennett songs Andy Williams songs Jan and Dean songs Frank Sinatra songs Grammy Award for Record of the Year Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Male Songs about San Francisco Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist ( s ) Bonzo Dog Doo - Dah Band songs United States National Recording Registry recordings 1961 in San Francisco Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from September 2016 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Italiano 日本 語 Русский Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 3 August 2018, at 05 : 41 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sang i left my heart in sanfrancisco
Answer: Tony Bennett