The Glory of Love is a 1936 song written by Billy Hill and first recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Helen Ward on vocals. It was released May 6, 1936, after being recorded on April 23, 1936, as a single on the Victor label, and the Benny Goodman version became a number one pop hit. The tune is in the pop genre and has been covered by many artists over the years.
Notable later versions include The Five Keys’ 1951 R&B chart topping rendition, and Otis Redding’s 1967 cover for The Dock of the Bay, which reached number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the R&B chart. The song also gained prominence in film, serving as the signature theme of the 1967 movie Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, performed by Jacqueline Fontaine on screen and in the credits, and it appears on the Beaches soundtrack performed by Bette Midler.
