The Bing Crosby – Rosemary Clooney Show commonly
referred to as just The Crosby – Clooney Show was an American old-timetalk radioprogram.
In 1960, entertainers Bing Crosbyand Rosemary Clooneyteamed together for The Bing Crosby – Rosemary Clooney Show on CBS. This
was a 20-minute show aimed at female listeners and was broadcast at 11:40 a.m.
daily.
Crosby
and Clooney would tape the dialogue weeks in advance and songs from the
substantial library built up with Buddy Cole and his Trio would be
interpolated. The songs would usually feature the singers singing separate
solos and often a duet. Songs were repeated on many occasions. Murdo MacKenzie
served as the producer. The shows commenced on February
29, 1960 and continued without a break until September 28, 1962 officially
ending Crosby's 31-year association with radio.
Varietylistened to the first show and commented, inter alia, "CBS is
forever trying to revive the good old days of radio, and this time, by some
magic of economics or persuasiveness, they’ve got a highly respected pair of
performers to help them... Program was not inspired but it was fun, and might
just attract a respectable audience."
Murray Schumach of The
New York Timeslooked at the series in depth in an
article published on October 8, 1961. The article commenced, "Bing and Rosemary
have worked out an almost foolproof system of parlaying work into fun and fun
into money. Periodically they sit down in some pleasant environment and turn
out material for some weeks of the 20 minute radio shows which are heard five days
a week on the CBS network. The approach to these taping sessions is informal,
just as it sounds on the air. There is a script, it is true. There are also
numerous commercials which Rosemary usually rattles off whilst Bing grins
smugly or stares stonily. By the time each of these
meetings is ended, the floor is carpeted with pages of scripts and only the
tape recorders know what is said..."
Amongst the diverse sponsors were Norcross
Greeting Cards, Fels & Company,
GE light bulbs,
Cheerios, Eastern
Products Corporation, Squirt(the drink with the happy taste), Sara
Lee, D-zerta, The Saturday Evening Post,
Four-Way cold tablets, Cat’s Paw Shoe Repairers, Matey, Del Monte,
Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum,
Ry-Krisp, DuPont, Dacron, Royal Edge and Royal Lining
Paper, U.S. Steeland Good Housekeeping.
City sidewalks, busy
sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling like Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you hear
Silver bells, silver
bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of street
lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shopper’s rush home
With their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all
The bustle you hear
Silver bells, silver
bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day.
THE CHRISTMAS SYMPHONY
PERRY COMO
SONGWRITERS: Phil
Perry; Joe Candullo & Charles Faso
COUNTRY: ITALYXU. S. A.
ALBUM: A PERRY COMO CHRISTMAS
LABEL: RCA RECORDS
GENRE: CHRISTMAS SONG
YEAR: 2001
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (/ˈkoʊmoʊ/; May 18,
1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-Americansinger, actor and television personality. During a career spanning
more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victorfor 44 years, after signing with the label in 1943.
He recorded primarily vocal pop and was
renowned for recordings in the intimate, easy-listening genre pioneered by
multi-media star Bing Crosby.
"Mr.
C.", as he was nicknamed, sold millions of records and pioneered a weekly
musical variety television show. His weekly television shows and seasonal
specials were broadcast throughout the world. In the
official RCA Records Billboard
magazinememorial, his life was summed up in
these few words: "50 years of music and a life well lived. An example to
all."
Como received five Emmysfrom 1955 to 1959, a Christopher
Award(1956) and shared a Peabody Awardwith good friend Jackie Gleason in 1956. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & SciencesHall of Fame in 1990 and received a Kennedy
Center Honorin 1987. Posthumously, Como received
the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awardin 2002 and was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Famein 2006.
He has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood
Walk of Famefor his work in radio, television,
and music.
The Perry Como Christmas Album is Perry Como's
15thRCA Victor12" long-play album.
Como is accompanied on the album by the Ray
Charles Singersand an orchestra arranged
and conducted by Nick Perito.
On two songs, "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Have Yourself a
Merry Little Christmas", boy choristers from the Little Church Around the Cornerand from Saint Thomas Church (Manhattan)also
participated.
( Oooo, Oooo! )
The candle glow, the mistletoe, and the falling snow
Bring to me, the Christmas symphony!
The balsam tree, the gifts I see, and the silent night
Bring to me, the Christmas symphony!
The voices of Mother speaking, to little girls and boys
"Dear, if you're not sleeping, Santa can't bring you any
toys!"
The Christmas prayer that fills the air, here and everywhere
Brings to me, the Christmas symphony!
Voices of Mother speaking…
To little girls and boys
"Dear, if you're not sleeping…
Santa can't bring you any toys!"
The Christmas prayer that fills the air, here and everywhere
Brings to me, the Christmas symphony!
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
ELVIS PRESLEY
SONGWRITERS: GENE
AUTRY & OAKLEY HALDEMAN
COUNTRY: U. S. A.
ALBUM: BLUE CHRISTMAS
LABEL: TSK MUSIC
GENRE: CHRISTMAS SONG
YEAR: 1992
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 –
August 16, 1977), also known simply as Elvis, was an American singer,
musician and actor. He is regarded as one of the most significant cultural iconsof the 20th century and is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or
simply "the King". His energized interpretations of songs and
sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix
of influences across color lines during a transformative
era in race relations, led him to great success—and
initial controversy.
Presley was born in Tupelo,
Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis,
Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old.
His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Recordswith producer Sam
Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American
musicto a wider audience. Presley, on
rhythm acoustic guitar, and accompanied by lead guitarist Scotty Mooreand bassist Bill Black,
was a pioneer of rockabilly,
an uptempo, backbeat-driven
fusion of country musicand rhythm and blues.
In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontanajoined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victoracquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel
Tom Parker, who would manage him for more
than two decades. Presley's
first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January
1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States. With a
series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records,
he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll.
(…) With his rise from poverty to significant
fame, Presley's success seemed to epitomize the American Dream.
He is the best-selling solo music artist of all time,
and was commercially successful in many genres.(…)
"Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa
Claus Lane)" is a Christmas songoriginally written and performed by Gene Autry,
with music composed by Oakley Haldeman.
Autry's original
recording (in which he pronounces Santa Claus as "Santy Claus") was a
top-10 hit on the pop and country charts; the song would go on to be covered
many times in the subsequent decades.
Autry got the idea for the song after riding
his horse in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade (now the Hollywood Christmas Parade)
in Los Angeles, during which crowds of spectators chanted, "Here comes Santa Claus".
This inspired him to write a song that Haldeman set to music. Autry's lyrics
combined two veins of the Christmas tradition, the mythology of Santa Claus and
the Christian origin of the holiday (most explicitly in its mention of the nativity promiseof "peace
on Earth" to those who "follow
the light"). A demo recording was made by
singer/guitarist Johnny Bond,
whose recording made use of ice cubes to mimic the sound of the jingling
sleigh-bells. This
inspired the use of real sleigh-bells in Autry's own recording of the song.
Autry first recorded the song in 1947;
released as a single by Columbia Records,
it became a Nº. 5 country and Nº. 9 pop hit. Autry performed the song in his
1949 movie The Cowboy and the Indians. He
re-recorded it again for Columbia in 1953 and, once more, for his own Challenge Recordslabel in 1957,
which released it on more than one album that year.
Other artists to record the song include Doris Day(1949), Bing
Crosbyand the Andrews Sisters(recorded May 10, 1949), Elvis
Presley(1957), the Ray
Conniff Singers(1959), Keely Smith(1960), Alvin
and the Chipmunks(1961), Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans(1963), Hank Thompson(1964), in excerpt by The Beach Boysas part of their song "Child of Winter"
(1974), Willie Nelson(1979), Glen
Campbell, RuPaul,
The Wiggles(1997), Billy Idol(2006), Bob Dylan(2009), Mariah
Carey(2010), Chicago(2011), the Gleecast (2013), Anna
Kendrick(2015), and Pentatonix(2018). In 1988, "Here Comes Santa Claus" was featured in Very
Merry Christmas Songs which is part of the Disney
Sing Along Songscollection. The song was
also featured prominently in the popular Christmas movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacationduring the climax towards the end of the film. The version of the
song used was Autry's 1957 Challenge Records recording.
Here comes Santa
Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane.
Vixen, Blitzen, all
his reindeer
Pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing,
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say a prayer,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Here comes Santa
Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Riding down Santa Claus Lane.
He's got a bag that's
filled with toys
For boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump in bed and cover up your head,
Because Santa Claus comes tonight.
Here comes Santa
Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Riding down Santa Claus Lane.
He doesn't care if
you're a rich or poor boy,
He loves you just the same.
Santa knows that we're God's children,
That makes everything right.
Fill your hears with Christmas cheer,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Well, here comes
Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Riding down Santa Claus Lane.
He'll come around
when the chimes ring out
It's Christmas morn
again.
Peace on Earth will come to all
If we just follow the light
Let's give thanks to the Lord above,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
'Cause Santa Claus
comes tonight.
THE FIRST NÖEL
FRANK SINATRA
SONGWRITER: WILLIAM SANDYS
COUNTRY: U. S. A.
ALBUM: A JOLLY CHRISTMAS FROM FRANK SINATRA
LABEL: CAPITOL RECORDS
GENRE: CRHISTMAS SONG
YEAR: 1957
Francis Albert Sinatra (/sɪˈnɑːtrə/;
December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor and producer
who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th
century. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time,
having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
Born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken,
New Jersey, Sinatra was greatly influenced
by the intimate easy listening vocal style of Bing
Crosbyand began his musical career in the swing erawith bandleaders Harry
Jamesand Tommy Dorsey.
Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Recordsin 1943, becoming the idol of the "bobby
soxers". He released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in
1946. But by the early 1950s his professional career had stalled and he turned
to Las Vegas,
where he became one of its best known residencyperformers as part of the Rat Pack.
His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From
Here to Eternity, with his performance
subsequently winning an Academy Awardand Golden
Globe Awardfor Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra
released several critically lauded albums, including In
the Wee Small Hours(1955), Songs for Swingin' Lovers!(1956), Come Fly with Me(1958), Only the Lonely(1958) and Nice 'n'
Easy(1960).
Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own
record label, Reprise Records,
and released a string of successful albums. In 1965, he recorded the
retrospective album, September
of My Yearsand starred in the Emmy-winning
television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music. After
releasing Sinatra
at the Sands, recorded at the Sands
Hotel and Casinoin Vegas with frequent
collaborator Count Basiein early 1966, the following year he recorded one of his most famous
collaborations with Tom Jobim,
the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos
Jobim. It was followed by 1968's Francis A. & Edward K.with Duke Ellington.
Sinatra retired for
the first time in 1971, but came out of retirement two years later. He
recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace,
and released "New York, New York" in 1980. Using his Las Vegas shows as a
home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until
shortly before his death in 1998.
Sinatra
forged a highly successful career as a film actor. After
winning an Academy Award for From
Here to Eternity, he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm(1955),
and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate(1962). He
appeared in various musicals such as On
the Town(1949), Guys
and Dolls(1955), High Society(1956), and Pal Joey(1957), winning another Golden Globe for the latter. Toward the end
of his career, he frequently played detectives, including the title character
in Tony Rome(1967). Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Awardin 1971. On television, The Frank Sinatra Showbegan on ABCin 1950, and he continued to make
appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Sinatra was also
heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s, and actively campaigned for
presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman,
John F. Kennedyand Ronald Reagan.
Sinatra was
investigated by the FBI for his alleged relationship with the Mafia.
While
Sinatra never learned how to read music, he worked very hard from a young age
to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for
his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live
with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol'
Blue Eyes". Sinatra led a colorful personal life, and was
often involved in turbulent affairs with women, such as with his second wife Ava Gardner.
He later married Mia Farrowin 1966 and Barbara
Marxin 1976. Sinatra had several violent
confrontations, usually with journalists he felt had crossed him, or work
bosses with whom he had disagreements. He was
honored at the Kennedy
Center Honorsin 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedomby
Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medalin 1997.
Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards,
including the Grammy
Trustees Award, Grammy
Legend Awardand the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He was
collectively included in Timemagazine's compilation of the 20th century's 100 most influential
people.After Sinatra's death, American
music critic Robert Christgaucalled him "the greatest singer of the 20th century", and
he continues to be seen as an iconic figure.
A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra is a Christmas albumby American singer Frank
Sinatra, originally released by Capitol Recordsin 1957.
Capitol reissued the album in 1965 with
different cover art and a new title, The Sinatra Christmas Album, both of which
also featured on the album's initial 1987 compact disc pressing. The original title and cover were
eventually restored for subsequent CD pressings in 1990 and 1999. In 2001, the
album art was altered from its 1957 version. The CD
bonus tracks were originally issued on a 1954 Capitol 45 rpm single, arranged
and conducted by Nelson Riddle.
In 2007 the album was reissued yet again,
with a "50th Anniversary" banner placed atop the 2001 cover art and
an additional bonus track (a vintage radio PSAthat Sinatra did for the American Lung Association's
"Christmas Seals" campaign) added.
In
2010, the album was reissued on vinyl for the first time since the Mobile
Fidelity Sound Lab reissue, #1-135, c. 1986 (separate from the 1983 16-LP box),
exclusively to independent record stores.
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as
they lay;