BE MY LOVE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Be My Love" was composed by Nicholas Brodszky with lyrics by Sammy Cahn in 1950. Written for the film The Toast of New Orleans, it was introduced by tenor Mario Lanza, whose passionate recording made it an international hit and earned a Grammy Hall of Fame induction decades later.

The first recording, made by Lanza with Ray Sinatra’s orchestra in Hollywood, reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1951. The song’s success established Lanza as a leading classical crossover star. Later interpretations by Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, and jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald expanded its reach beyond its operatic origins.

The melody combines sweeping romantic gestures with lush harmonic movement in a 32-bar form. Its lyrics express fervent devotion, pairing classical phrasing with a pop sensibility. The dynamic range and soaring intervals make it a showcase for vocal expression, bridging the worlds of jazz, pop, and light opera.