"Manhattan Serenade," composed by Louis Alter in 1928, with lyrics by Harold Adamson, was a hit record for Swing Era bandleaders Tommy Dorsey (with a vocal by Jo Stafford) and, more successfully, Harry James (vocal by Helen Forrest). But it's most familiar as the music orchestrating Corleone Family consigliere Tom Hagen's flight to Los Angeles, to meet film producer Jack Woltz at Woltz Studios, about casting Johnny Fontane in a new war film, in the 1972 classic The Godfather. 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Swing Era was the period of time (1935-1946) when big band swing music was the most popular music in America. ... A big band, also known as a jazz orchestra, is a large musical ensemble that plays jazz music, especially Swing. ... Tommy Dorsey (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was a jazz trombonist and bandleader in the Big Band era. ... Jo Stafford Jo Elizabeth Stafford (born November 12, 1917) is a singer whose career spanned the late 1920s through the early 1960s. ... ... Helen Forrests hit single I Had the Craziest Dream. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... The Godfather is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Mario Puzo, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. ...

"Manhattan Serenade" was also used as the theme for the 1930-1945 radio comedy Easy Aces, both in a version played by an in-studio organist and, later, a small quartet consisting of organ, celeste, and two string instruments. A short-lived, expanded version of the show, mr. ace and JANE, used a full orchestra arrangement of the song. 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Goodman Ace and his awfully wedded wife, Jane, on the jacket of the 1970 book republishing several scripts of their seminal radio comedy, Easy Aces. ...

In addition to the Dorsey/Stafford and James/Forrest recordings, "Manhattan Serenade" has been recorded by such artists as the Beau Hunks Saxophone Soctette, Earl Coleman, Billy Cotton, Joan Edwards, the Four Coins, Curtis Fuller, Andre Kostelanetz, Enoch Light, Lincoln Mayorga, Raymond Scott, Nat Shilkret, Dinah Shore, and Caterina Valente. André Kostelanetz (December 22, 1901 - January 13, 1980) was a popular music conductor and arranger, one of the pioneers of easy listening music. ... Cover of Enoch Lights first Command release, Persuasive Percussion Enoch Light (August 18, 1905 - July 31, 1978) was a classical violinist, bandleader, and recording engineer. ... Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore, February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress and talk show host. ... Caterina Valente (born January 14, 1931 in Paris) is a singer, dancer, and actress. ...