Songs and Standards

Dr. Angelou reminisces about some of the most popular and enduring songs in American music history with two music greats. Songwriter and crooner Tony Bennett and jazz singer Nnenna Freelon join Dr. Angelou to share recollections of their music careers, what inspires them and why they love doing what they do.

For generations, Tony has been captivating audiences young and old with his music. Born in 1926, he continues to record and perform steadily and says retirement is nowhere in sight. "I really have a will to live as much as I can because I still have so much to learn that I haven't really captured yet," Tony says. "And, I'd like to get better and better as I keep going."

Nnenna, who has been nominated for five Grammy awards for her vocal work, recalls the sage advice she once received from a professor that still guides her to this day: "'Sing from your heart; strive to be as honest as you can be,'" she says. "And you hear words, they wash over and they do whatever they're going to according to your understanding at that time. But I say that those words continue to deepen every year that I'm living."