I have been a Michael Bublé fan since the first time I heard him sing. He captures the essence of all of the great music performed in the forties by the SInatras, the Tormes, the Crosbys and many more while bringing his own modern interpretation to some of the greatest tunes ever written. Then, later, when I saw how he was discovered singing at a wedding by one of the greatest producers and managers of contemporary musicians in the recording world - David Foster, this Canadian singer's place at the top of the old school jazz performers list is fabulous for people who love and appreciate great music. I have had the privilege of seeing this incredible talent perform live twice.
So, today, because it's Friday and only fifteen days 'till the big day, I have included two outstanding examples of this modern-day crooner's outstanding interpretations of some classics - First up - No. 16 on the Christmas Countdown - The video starts with Blue Christmas, the classic made famous by Elvis. Hearing and seeing the trumpet player makes this video a must see. Also on this video is a unique vocal performance of Silver Bells with Bublé backed up by the vocal group 7 Naturally that toured with him on four different world tours.
Then a BONUS TRACK, a very short clip, featuring Bublé singing COME HOME with Broadway and Game of Thrones star Hannah Waddington.
Enjoy the day and the weekend my fellow Winter Vagabonds.
On a Thursday, what better way to get ready for the weekend and get togethers, parties or just enjoying the season than hearing a classic tune from The Beach Boys in black and white from the TV program SHINDIG! ? Hey, back then it was very hip! I was a wandering ninth grader in 1964. My middle school days were spent doing things I shouldn't have been doing. I was in the band and had been moved to tuba, which I loathed.
THE BEACH BOYS, formed in 1961, became one of the hottest pop/rock bands to ever record. I saw them live in Tully Gym at Florida State when I was in high school, and they were amazing. The band, with the musical genius Brian Wilson writing most of their songs, have sold over 100 million records to date. Their album Pet Sounds, released in 1966, is considered one of the most innovative albums ever recorded in pop/rock music.
So, today, just take yourself back when life was simple and enjoy THE BEACH BOYS performing an original Christmas tune written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love -NO. 17 on the 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN.
The Beach Boys are still around and still touring. They have new members, but Mike Love, one of the lead singers is eighty! I say, keep it up. To give you a taste of this innovative group from the sixties performing today, here is an interesting split video showing Brian Wilson performing in 2004 and Mike Love singing lead in 2018 on LITTLE SAINT NICK.
Time does, indeed, march on, but I refuse to let go of great things and memories, especially music. Hope you feel the same. The bottom line - the music from the sixties still resonates today.
Today, I am posting three different arrangements of one of the most classic Christmas songs ever recorded. Written by the incomparable Irving Berlin in 1942, the composition won an Oscar at the 15th Academy Awards. That's before I was a gleam in my mom and dad's eyes! The song was originally recorded for the film Holiday Inn in 1942. However, a new version of the song was featured in the 1954 film White Christmas. From that point on, this simple song became a Christmas standard.
The first video of this classic is in black and white, from 1951, featuring Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee. The song still holds the record for the highest selling single in recording history - Fifty million copies sold. So enjoy - WHITE CHRISTMAS by Bing & Peggy in 1951 - NO. 18 on THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN.
Then the song was performed in a major scene in the movie White Christmas featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen in 1954.
And last but not least, enjoy a new contemporary jazz vocal version of this classic tune by the Australian pop-vocal group Human Nature.
So, I hope you enjoy these different arrangements of White Christmas, even though here in God's Country we get snow about every ten years or so. Incidentally, my parents gave me Bing Cosby's White Christmas album when I was a kid and I listened to it every night during Christmas season. I still have it. Great music!
The description of Zach Williams laid out on his web site cannot be improved on - Here is a brief description of this Grammy award winning artist.
"Zach Williams’ powerful and poignant journey spans how a boy with a storybook childhood filled with wonderfully nurturing parents, a strong and supportive grounding in the church, and a warm and loving local community was seduced away by the illusion of rock stardom, and the drug and alcohol excesses that can so often accompany that lifestyle.
These days, the Jonesboro, Arkansas-raised and currently Nashville, Tennessee-based artist is a renewed man. He’s a husband, a father, and has also become one of CCM’s leading artists and songwriters by carving a niche with his singular blend of southern rock, country, and faith-filled songwriting, which quickly awarded him his first GRAMMY with his debut album, 2017’s Chain Breaker."
Today's tune captures what the above summary describes about this innovative singer and his band - GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN - NO. 19 ON THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN. Williams' version of this classic really rocks!
And for a powerful BONUS TRACK - Here is Zach Williams with one of the greatest country singers on the planet -Dolly Parton singing - THERE WAS JESUS.
Christmas is coming fast. I hope you have completed most of your shopping by now. I love shopping online. It's the only way in my book.
GOOD MORNING - IT'S MONDAY! I really hope you will get lively and ready to conquer the week after hearing today's Countdown tune. The Andrews Sisters were hot, hot, hot in the forties. When they recorded their 1941 hit Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy it started a career that eventually led to the sale of over 80 million records. During the war years they entertained the Allied Troops extensively in Africa and Italy. Their vocal harmonies influenced many great artists from Mel Torme to The Beach Boys. You can hear their influence today as well. Any time you hear three-part harmony singing, you must give the Andrews Sisters credit for being the first to sing those creative vocal arrangements.
So today, you will hear a great cover version of Last Christmas by Post Modern Jukebox singers Sara Niemietz, Cristina Gatti and Arian Savalas with tap dancer Melinda Sullivan. No. 20 on the 2021 Christmas Countdown. This tune really kicks - Enjoy.
And to show the innovative singing by this trio from the forties, I have included a BONUS TRACK entitled THE ANDREWS SISTERS AT THE HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN. It's not a Christmas song but you will get an idea of the how this amazing group sang back in the day.
And, because it's Monday, I decided to add another Bonus Track with Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters singing a great Christmas Classic with a very cool video - Mele Kali Kimaka.
So, take a listen and get going. I know you still have Christmas Shopping to do. Time's running out.
First - a personal note. I grew up singing gospel music. At the age of twelve, my father called a family meeting and announced that we were going to form a gospel quartet and sing in church or wherever we were invited. It was the classic - Daddy sang bass - Momma sang tenor. My brother was the lead and I sang baritone (I later became a tenor). So, I have sung gospel music almost my entire life. My dad would drag us to gospel sings all over the south when I was a kid. Gospel music became part of my DNA and I still love singing and hearing great gospel music today.
Bill Gaither, along with his wife Gloria, became the driving force behind Southern Gospel Music thriving well beyond its height of popularity in the fifties & sixties. I grew up listening to the greats like Jake Hess, Hovie Lister, J,D. Sumner, The Statesman Quartet and other icons of this genre of music. In the early 1980's The Gaither Vocal Band was formed.
Since that time the GVB has had some twenty-one different singers. Some of the greatest high tenors such as Larnelle Harris, David Phelps Guy Penrod, Michael English and many others have been in and out of the quartet over the years. Winner of two Grammys and twenty DOVE Awards, this talented group of singers has traveled the world proclaiming the joy of the good news through gospel music.
Today, I have included two videos showing the amazing vocal skills of this group. First, please enjoy MARY WAS THE FIRST ONE TO CARRY THE GOSPEL - NO. 21 ON THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN.
And for a Bonus Video, listen to the amazing acapella singing as they perform THE CAROL MEDLEY.
I hope you enjoy today's presentation of this great gospel music proclaiming the birth of Christ.
founded in 1925 in St. Louis, have been performing as a precision dance company at Radio City Music Hall since 1932. Their most renown show is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. i have told many people - seeing The Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall at Christmas should be on every person's Bucket List. They are truly amazing to watch, listen and enjoy this incredible group of dancers perform. Over three thousand women have performed with this amazing dance institution since 1933. One of my observations - When we saw them perform at Radio City in December of 2014 - How in the world do they find that many women the same size and height that can dance? But that's another post for another day.
The Rockettes must be seen live to truly appreciate the precise dancing they perform. The dancers that perform are one of two teams with thirty-six women in each team and four standbys. They perform eight different dance numbers in each show.
Please enjoy The Rockettes performing some serious dancing, with some of the most precise footwork by an amazing team of thirty-six women dancers - No. 22 on THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN.
And a Bonus Video for today. The Rockettes as Toy Soldiers. Amazing - Enjoy.
Just makes you feel like dancing - gotta dance the night away!
