HO, HO, HO….MY FAVORITE XMAS MUSIC
It may be easier to name the major recording artists who have not performed a Christmas song than list the ones who have—Christmas songs have been performed in every genre for hundreds of years.
Here is a very short list that is meaningful for its diversity: Tom Petty, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Kylie Minogue, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
In my novel, Roll the Dice, the protagonist is a rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame member, turned United States Senate candidate Tyler Sloan. Check out Sloan’s not so polite response when during the campaign, a Senator wants Sloan to sing at his office’s holiday party.
The Internet is filled with different lists of the most liked or admired songs. Remarkably, the greatest selling single, not merely a Christmas song, is 1942’s Bing Crosby record, “White Christmas.”
You do not have to be Christian to enjoy Christmas music. “White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin; and Johnny Marks wrote, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” and “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.” Both of these great composers were Jewish. Approximately half the 25 best-selling Christmas songs were written by Jewish composers. Who knew?
Like the standards? Try Johnny Mathis’ “Do You Hear What I Hear?” or Nat King Cole’s, “The Christmas Song.” Frank Sinatra released an entire Christmas album in 1957.
For those who want an edge, the Ramones sang, “Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight)”. Urban music has been represented by Run DMC, and back in the day, Chuck Berry sang “Run Rudolph Run.” James Brown, the Godfather of soul had three Christmas albums.
My favorite Christmas works?
Video: watch YouTube for a fascinating, entertaining and beautiful television segment on a 1977 Christmas variety show. Bing Crosby, the 1940s crooner performs a duet with David Bowie, one of the most talented rock Gods. The two eerily connect, their voices mesh perfectly on, “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.” Stunning.
Older Single: Elvis Presley’s cover of “Blue Christmas” makes me smile every time I hear it. Elvis’ deep, melodic singing of, “Blue, blue, blue Christmas,” is memorable. Who hasn’t imitated that line?
Current Single: Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want for Christmas is You,” combines her beautiful voice with the sing-a-long, toe-tapping qualities of a great Christmas song.
Album: The disgraced songwriter and producer Phil Spector produced the classic album, “A Christmas Gift for You.” His unique “wall of sound” style fills the album with memorable performances by various artists. Please, please listen to “Sleigh Ride” by his wife Ronnie Spector fronting the Ronettes.
Most unusual: the Beatles, the greatest band of all time, performed a Christmas song each year for their fans from 1963 to 1969. Earlier this year all of the songs were re-pressed, remastered and reissued. The songs were never commercially released because they were not really songs. Even though I am stricken with Beatlemania, these recordings were a mish-mash of snippets of their music, traditional Christmas songs and spoken holiday messages from each Beatle to their fan club members. It was an odd collection.
In my novel, Roll the Dice, Sloan never performed a Christmas song. Listen to what I hear—Sloan may be humming a few bars in the sequel.
Get Your Copy Today!
Roll the Dice
by: Wayne Avrashow
Political Thriller
Coming November 28, 2017
What happens when one of America’s biggest rock stars leaves the Las Vegas stage to run for the United State Senate?
The ultimate celebrity candidate, Tyler Sloan is no stranger to politics – his estranged father was a California governor who narrowly lost a Presidential campaign. He runs as a political independent, refuses campaign contributions, and dismisses special interests and lobbyists.
Sloan is caught in a political campaign fraught with; sexual scandal, corruption and conflicting loyalties. Will he be able to navigate through political turbulence and his own past to win the race?
Editorial Reviews
“...hilarious, politically savvy...politics at its corrupt, dysfunctional, inspiring best.” ~ Kirkus Reviews (pre-publication review, “Best Manuscript” award winner)
"Avrashow’s book is an entertaining reveal of an unconventional candidate and campaign and it is filled with drama, hope and conflict,” ~ Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles 2005-2013
“In the tradition of Allen Drury and Richard Condon comes the next great author of political thrillers, Wayne Avrashow.” ~ Michael Levin, New York Times best-selling author
“A political thriller that draws on Avrashow’s considerable experience…a great read,” ~ Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Councilman (ret.) and Los Angeles County Supervisor (ret.)
“a riveting, totaling involving page-turner…Roll the Dice has all the elements to develop into a memorable film dramatization,” ~ Peter Saphier, executive at Universal and Paramount studios, o read and recommended the novel “Jaws” for production at Universal, co-Producer “Scarface”
“Intriguing spin on the phenomenon of celebrities-as-candidates.” ~ Bob Ronka, Los Angeles City Councilman (Ret.)
About the Author:
Wayne Avrashow was the campaign manager for two successful Los Angeles City Council campaigns and a Deputy/Chief of Staff to those two elected City Council members. He served as a senior advisor for a successful city-wide referendum in the City of Los Angeles, co-authored ballot arguments on Los Angeles County-wide measures, served as Chairman for a Los Angeles County ballot measure, and was a Los Angeles government Commissioner for nearly twenty years. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Yaroslavsky Institute, a public policy institute founded by long time Southern California elected official, and now UCLA professor, Zev Yaroslavsky.
His background in politics, government, business, and law provides unique insight into the machinations and characters that populate political campaigns.
Wayne is a practicing attorney who specializes in government advocacy, real estate, and business law. Formerly, he was an officer in two real estate development firms. As a lawyer-lobbyist, he has represented clients before numerous California municipalities and in Nevada and Idaho. He has lectured at his law school and taught at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. He has also authored numerous op-ed articles that appeared in daily newspapers, legal, business, and real estate publications. In addition, he is the author of a self-published book for the legal community, Success at Mediation—10 Strategic Tools for Attorneys.
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