Christmas time is a magical time of year, it always has been. The soundtrack of the holiday season in America always brings out memories and special feelings throughout every generation of people. The resilience of traditional Christmas music recorded decades ago is amazing, as it still gets shared today and over every holiday season.
Let’s look back at some of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time!
A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives (1964)
This song, written in 1962, was featured in the 1964 Rankin-Bass Christmas Special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, in which Burl Ives was the narrator, Sam the Snowman. Due to Ives’ singing fame, this song, as well as “Silver and Gold” were given to him. Since becoming available in the digital era, the song has sold over 650,000 copies in US. Ives passed away in April of 1995, but leaves behind this holiday standard for millions to enjoy.
Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson – (1950)
This light orchestra standard was conceptualized in the summer of 1946, and was first performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra with Arthur Fiedler conducting in May of 1948. It’s one of their most well-known works. Leroy Anderson’s recording was made in September of 1950. The first vocal version was recorded by the Andrews Sisters. While none of its lyrics mention holidays, it’s hard to think of Christmas without hearing this instrumental song.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry (1949)
Beginning his career in the 1930’s, Gene Autry was an American actor, singer, musician, composer, rodeo performer and California Angels baseball team founding owner. From 1934 thru 1953, Autry appeared in 93 motion pictures, and for six years in the 1950’s he hosted The Gene Autry show on TV. His association with Christmas music has kept him in the public ear every year since, with standards like “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Frosty the Snowman”, but he’s most known for his rendition of this holiday classic about that reindeer with the magical glowing nose.
The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole (1946)
It’s nearly impossible to enjoy Christmas without hearing the golden tones of the one and only ‘unforgettable’ Nat King Cole opening this song with “Chestnuts roasting…on an open fire.”Cole started his career as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s, and as part of the King Cole Trio, was a third of the top-selling act for Capitol Records in the 1940s. This song was written by Robert Wells and Mel Torme. It was recorded by Cole three times, in 1946, 1953 and in 1961, with the latter considered the standard as it was finally recorded in stereo. Sadly, we lost Cole in 1965 at the young age of 45 but his buttery smooth voice lives forever every Christmas.
Before we get to the #1 song, let’s acknowledge some other standards it wouldn’t be Christmas without…Perry Como’s “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays”, Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra’s “Mistletoe and Holly”, Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” and of course, Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. This is to name just a few. But there’s one artist without whom Christmas just wouldn’t be the same…and that’s the legendary Bing Crosby.
White Christmas – Bing Crosby (1942)
This Irving Berlin classic was written in 1942 for the musical film Holiday Inn. The song topped the charts for 11 weeks in 1942 and returned to the number one spot in 1943 and 1944. Crosby’s version holds the distinction of being the world’s best-selling single with an excess of 50 million copies sold worldwide. Crosby’s voice is as creamy as eggnog, and a standard of holiday sounds, including his versions of “Do You Hear What I Hear”, “Silent Night”, “It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas” and more.
While Christmas music has evolved and modernized itself as the rest of the world has in every generation, the timeless classics of Christmas past always deliver all the feelings and wonder of the most wonderful time of the year. From all of us here at Parkview Senior Living… May your days be merry and bright…and may all your Christmases be white!
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