The End of a Love Affair is a jazz vocal ballad for which Edward Redding wrote both the music and the lyrics, published in 1951. Redding is credited as the sole writer. Margaret Whiting recorded it in July 1951, and the recording was first released as the single "Everlasting". Later recordings include Johnny Hartman's version in 1957, Frank Sinatra's with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle that January, Billie Holiday's in 1958 with the Ray Ellis orchestra, Nat King Cole's in 1963 and Johnny Mathis's in 1964. The song has been recorded by singers and instrumentalists from the early 1950s into the 1960s. Instrumental jazz players have also taken up the tune, among them Wes Montgomery, Dexter Gordon and Cannonball Adderley.
