A Beautiful Friendship is a jazz standard written in 1956 by Donald Kahn (music) and Stanley Styne (lyrics). The original artist was Ella Fitzgerald, who recorded it with the Buddy Bregman Orchestra; the session took place March 27, 1956 and the song was released in May 1956. The lyrics sketch the moment when a beautiful friendship gives way to love, blending warmth with a light touch of wit. Since then it has become a beloved vocal and instrumental standard, covered by many artists including Nat King Cole with George Shearing in 1962 and Tony Bennett in the late 1960s. The tune is generally classified as vocal jazz or a swing standard and has appeared on numerous albums and compilations, making it a staple of the jazz repertoire.
