Dean Martin Christmas Album is a 1966 studio album by Dean Martin arranged by Ernie Freeman and Bill Justis. This was Martin’s only album of Christmas music released on Reprise Records (his only other Christmas album, A Winter Romance, having been released in 1959 on Capitol Records). Ricci James Martin, Martin’s son, wrote in a biography of his father that The Dean Martin Christmas Album was the only one of his father’s albums that was played in the Martin household, his parents seldom listening to Dean Martin’s music. Billboard magazine reported in its December 3, 1966 issue that The Dean Martin Christmas Album was on top of its “Best Bets for Christmas” chart.
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(Source: Wikipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album.
THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS ALBUM * (COMPLETE LP) * 1966
“The Little Drummer Boy” (originally known as “Carol of the Drum“) is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family Singers, the song was further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale; the Simeone version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since.
When the Twentieth-Century Fox Records label contracted Simeone to make a Christmas album in 1958, he assembled a group he called “The Harry Simeone Chorale” and searched for recording material. After being introduced to an obscure song by producer and credited song co-author Henry Onorati, titled “Carol of the Drum” (originally composed by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941 and arranged to present form by Jack Halloran), Simeone changed the title to “The Little Drummer Boy” and recorded it under that title for his album Sing We Now of Christmas. He received joint authorship-and-composition credit for the album, although he did not actually write or compose the song. The single “The Little Drummer Boy” quickly became extremely popular and scored on the U.S. music charts from 1958 to 1962. The Simeone Chorale had another Christmas success during 1962, with their rendition of the then-new song Do You Hear What I Hear? for Mercury Records.
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(Source: Wikipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
‘A Merry Mancini Christmas’ is a 1966 album by Henry Mancini of orchestral and choral arrangements of Christmas music. In addition to traditional Christmas songs, it also contains the original Mancini composition “Carol for Another Christmas”, the theme of the 1964 television film of the same name.
The initial Billboard review from October 29, 1966 wrote that “It’s an important addition to the Christmas shelf because Mancini’s arrangements are as fresh and familiar as the material is familiar and lasting.”
The album was reviewed by Stephen Thomas Erlewine at Allmusic who described it as an “ideal holiday record” and added that ” . . . the album is filled with the lush arrangements that are his aural signature, and they sound perfect when matched with these 11 Christmas medleys and carols. It is a warm, appealing record that blends easily into the background, making it a good choice for holiday gatherings of all sorts.”
The album peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 in 1970.
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(Source: Wikipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album.
HENRY MANCINI * A MERRY MANCINI CHRISTMAS (COMPLETE LP)
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958; it has since been recorded by numerous other music artists. By the song’s 50th anniversary in 2008, Lee’s original version had sold over 25 million copies with the 4th most digital downloads sold of any Christmas single. Because of her mature-sounding voice, Lee recorded this song when she was only thirteen years old. The recording features Hank Garland and Harold Bradley on guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano, Boots Randolph on sax, Bob Moore on bass, and veteran session player Buddy Harman on drums.
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(Source: Wikipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Specs Howard and Dick Kernen March 30, 2012 (Photo credit: Specs Howard School Facebook page)
DICK KERNEN 1938-2020
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In memory of Dick Kernen’s passing, we will feature a statement, here, from Specs Howard. December 18, 2020
SPECS HOWARD STATEMENT — DICK KERNEN’S PASSING
Dick Kernen was much more than a colleague. He became, over the years, a dear friend. The day I hired Dick Kernen, all those decades ago, I could not have possibly known what a difference he would make in my life, the lives of the staff and the lives of thousands of Specs Howard School students and graduates. His passion for the broadcasting world permeated his every encounter. He was loved well beyond the walls of the school. Broadcast industry leaders relied on Dick for his unique brand of advice, his encyclopedic knowledge of the business and his “oh-so-Kernen” way of looking at the world. He was one of a kind and will be missed forever. Our hearts go out to Dick’s wife Char and the entire Kernen family.
— Specs Howard
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(Posted by Holly Kraus on Fr., December 18, 2020. Specs Howard School of media Arts; official blog page)
REMEMBERING DICK KERNEN
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Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media noted, “Joining the Specs Howard School of Broadcasting (as it was known at the time) was the wisest — and ONLY — career move Dick ever made. He really loved helping young people get into radio. And I know of no one who has personally started more radio careers in Michigan — and maybe all over the country.”
The RAMP RADIO and MUSIC PROS page remembers the broadcasting legacy of Dick Kernen. You can view their page, HERE.
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A FINAL WORD
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Dick Kernen.
He was one of a kind. Loved by his students, he was respected by his peers throughout the broadcasting medium, not only here, everywhere around the country.
With a desire to get into the radio trade at a young age, I was blessed in having him as my class instructor a long time ago. When I was just but a handful of students who attended the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts (as it was called then) in 1980-1981.
Sometime shortly after completion of my courses there, the phone rings. Dick Kernen was calling. My first stop, WJLB.
A tutor, a mentor, that he was. But Dick Kernen was more than that. For he single-handedly impacted the many lives in the profession he so loved, having served so well. For a phenomenal six decades of his life.
‘Christmas Album’ is a late-1968 album by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. It was the group’s eleventh release. The LP edition of the album was issued twice. The album contains a mixture of popular Christmas-season music, mostly American secular standards. Collaborating with Alpert in the production was his usual cadre of musicians: Nick Ceroli (drums/percussion), Bob Edmondson (trombone), Tonni Kalash (trumpet), Lou Pagani (keyboards), John Pisano (guitars/mandolin) and Pat Senatore (bass). Perennial sideman, Julius Wechter, appears on marimba and percussion. Alpert provides lead vocals on “The Christmas Song” and “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle,” and there are also appearances by a studio choir and string instruments, arranged by Shorty Rogers.
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(Source: Wikipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album.
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
“THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SHOW“
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Aired on the night of December 19, 1968 on Detroit NBC WWJ-TV (Channel 4), 10:00 p.m., 52 years ago, on this day. Guests: Bob Newhart and Dom DeLuise, and Dennis Weaver. Plus cameos by dozens of celebrities, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Johnny Carson, announcing the sending of gifts of toys to children in hospitals around the country and through various charities.
(Source: Detroit Free Press; Sunday, December 19, 1968)
THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SHOW * NBC-TV * THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1968
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” was written by Blane Ralph and Martin Hugh for a sad scene in the film ‘Meet Me In St. Louis’ (1944) and first had lines such as “it may be your last [Christmas]” and “[friends] will be near to us no more”. Hugh Martin recalled to Entertainment Weekly in 2007, “They said, ‘It’s so dreadfully sad.’ I said, ‘I thought the girls were supposed to be sad in that scene.’ They said, ‘Well, not *that* sad.'” Frank Sinatra’s version, by 1957, has altered lyrics more suitable for the jolly season as indicated by his album’s title “A Jolly Christmas” this song was included on. Judy Garland performed this song with Frank Sinatra’s modified lyrics on “The Judy Garland Show Christmas Special” in 1963.
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(Source: azlyrics.com)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Keener original, Robin Seymour, has written a long awaited autobiography. “The DJ That Launched 1,000 Hits” is a fascinating read and a required addition to the library of every true Keenerfan. We caught up with Robin, now in his 90th decade of life, for a taste of the treasures to be found in his extraordinary memoir.
Robin Seymour September 2019 (Photo credit: Kevin Willett)
Here is the story of a Detroit radio and television pioneer, the great Robin Seymour. . . from his earliest days on WKMH radio, later in 1963 staying with the “new” WKNR Keener 13, to the host of “Teen Town” and “Swingin’ Time,” on CKLW-TV 9. Both of Seymour’s TV broadcasts became two of the original TV dance shows geared for teens — showcasing music legends of the day — beaming out of Windsor, Ontario into Detroit homes in the 1960s.
If you are a Baby Boomer and want to relive those wonderful days of the ’50’s and ’60’s this story is for you. It is complete with pictures of memorable Motown superstars. It is a most enjoyable read. Writer Carolyn Rosenthal masterfully captures Robin’s fascinating story from his earliest years in the service to his history making radio and television career.
You will find as well great Robin Seymour memories shared by current and former Detroit radio broadcasting luminaries —
Reflections by Pat. St. John (Sirius XM); Art Voulo, Jr. (Radio’s Best Friend’); Scott Morgan (The Rationals); Pat Holiday (CKLW); Jim Harper (ex-Detroit radio morning personality); Lee Alan (Lee Alan Creative); Jerry Goodwin (former WKNR WKNR FM WABX personality); Tom Ryan (former CKLW WOMC personality); Dick Purtan (former WKNR CKLW WOMC Detroit radio morning personality).
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The legendary Detroit broadcaster passed away on April 17, this year. He was 94.
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MAKES A FABULOUS HOLIDAY GIFT
AVAILABLE NOW on AMAZON BOOKS
Get the new Robin Seymour memoirs book today! Available HERE only through Amazon.com
