Music is a pretty big topic in the world of Christmas. I think it touches each of us. Surely you must have some favorites...
Event Recap Chat with Aaron Henton of Merry & Bright Blog
- Thread starter Jeff Westover
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DecemberisComing: Not well enough to say that "I play". I pick at a guitar every now and then, but not well enough to play anywhere except my basement.
Favorites: Yes, there are a few standouts. The very first album I can remember listening to/playing as a child was a Bing Crosby Christmas record, so Bing is a favorite. 50+ years later I still have that very record, and many more from Bing.
Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Perry Como - many of the classics from the 60's top my list.
Elvis is way up there too.
What about newer stuff...do you have a preference for artists still putting out Christmas?
There are some good new albums each year. Molly Burch's last year was great, as was Rodney Crowell and J.D. McPherson's the year before.
Some indie artists release really great Christmas albums - Rehya Stevens' album is wonderful, and a Pennyslvania group called Found Wandering is absolutely sublime.
I think, for me, this in one of the big values behind what you do. You bring us the artists, folks we have never heard before
How many of these artists do you actually get to talk to?
Through e-mail or Facebook a few each year. They are always super to work with. I've been able to do several artist interviews and '20 Questions' features over the years. I really enjoy doing those.
In ten years have you seen any of these new or indies make it big?
A couple years ago I got to do a real, in person interview with Casi Joy, who had a deep run on The Voice on NBC. That was great!
Are you able to say, I knew you when..?
Oh wow, that's awesome
How do you find these guys?
Casi Joy is probably the one who has made it the biggest. Rehya Stevens, who I mentioned earlier, has had her songs featured in several Hallmark movies and other Christmas movies, so she has some good holiday cred.
We were able to talk with Rehya. She's the best
I agree with Jeff, the music you share isn't music that I would normally run across. When Aaron mentioned his Bing Crosby record it reminded me of the year I ordered a CD to replace my Burl Ives record of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, one of the only records I had as a child, and I was let down when it sounded too "good" and not how it sounded back in the day.
So who are YOUR fans...who do you hear from yourself?
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