THAT LUCKY OLD SUN - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"That Lucky Old Sun" was written by Haven Gillespie and Beasley Smith and published in 1949. The earliest hit recording was made by Frankie Laine on June 21, 1949, in Los Angeles, and it quickly became one of his signature emotional ballads.

The song has since been recorded by Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and numerous soul and jazz interpreters. Its lyrics contrast the unchanging routine of the sun with the burdens of human labor and longing, delivering a deeply expressive narrative. The melody’s sweeping phrasing and gospel-tinged harmonic movement have made it adaptable to various interpretations, especially those emphasizing vocal depth and emotional intensity.