Thank you.
This is based on a blog I've been posting around Thanksgiving every year for the last several years. I am gratefully updating it for 2022.
Running the Sounds of Christmas is a labor of love. It's not a big money-maker, nor was it ever intended to be. I love Christmas music, and felt that there was so much great Christmas music out there, and most of it was being ignored by traditional radio. I wanted to create a place that played it all (or, at least, a lot of it). I thought others who loved Christmas music probably felt the same way, and I wanted to make a station that would play as much Christmas music as possible, not just the "hits". Judging by the traffic this site gets, and the increasing number of listeners that find us and tune in each year, I'm not alone.
Lots of artists find us, too, and I am very grateful for that. Some record special announcements for us. Some simply send us their music for airplay consideration. And some elect to pay us to advertise their latest release. Some names you may know. Some you may only know because you've heard them regularly on the Sounds of Christmas. And some may be completely new to you.
I'd like to take a moment here to thank those that have chosen to support us this season.
This is based on a blog I've been posting around Thanksgiving every year for the last several years. I am gratefully updating it for 2022.
Running the Sounds of Christmas is a labor of love. It's not a big money-maker, nor was it ever intended to be. I love Christmas music, and felt that there was so much great Christmas music out there, and most of it was being ignored by traditional radio. I wanted to create a place that played it all (or, at least, a lot of it). I thought others who loved Christmas music probably felt the same way, and I wanted to make a station that would play as much Christmas music as possible, not just the "hits". Judging by the traffic this site gets, and the increasing number of listeners that find us and tune in each year, I'm not alone.
Lots of artists find us, too, and I am very grateful for that. Some record special announcements for us. Some simply send us their music for airplay consideration. And some elect to pay us to advertise their latest release. Some names you may know. Some you may only know because you've heard them regularly on the Sounds of Christmas. And some may be completely new to you.
I'd like to take a moment here to thank those that have chosen to support us this season.
Kenny Davies says his song "Christmas Rap" is the "true story" about Santa. He recorded it and posted it to YouTube around Thanksgiving 2012. And he's been sponsoring us season after season. In fact, he is almost always the first one to sign on for the next season, sometimes as early as Spring! You can click on the picture and download his song from iTunes.
Michael Sinatra has been with us for several seasons. He's also been so generous with his time that he checked in with the Sounds of Christmas podcast for several episodes to take us along on the journey of creating his last Christmas album (and his plans for more Christmas music, hopefully some time soon)! Click on the picture on the right to stream and download songs from his second Christmas album, simply entitled Christmas. You can also order a signed copy of his first Christmas album, An Old Fashioned Christmas, on his website HERE!
Actress and vocalist Brynn Stanley released Classic Christmas a couple years ago, added a bonus track last year and has now released the album on vinyl! Sounds of Christmas listeners may also remember her earlier single "Selfie With Santa" from a couple years prior, though it's also included on Classic Christmas. Her video for the first single "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" was voted the number one holiday video on Hip Video Promo. Click the picture on the left to get a copy of her album on vinyl while supplies last!
Russ Lorenson first advertised with us in 2015, when he released his second Christmas album. Very happy to have him back with us again for In The Holiday Spirit's 7th anniversary (and the sixteenth anniversary of that first Christmas release, What I Want For Christmas). You can find out more about both of those albums, as well as Russ' other music, when you click the picture and go to his website.
This year marks four-in-a-row for Suzanne's Band. Their second Christmas single, "Underneath The Tree", came out last year, and Suzanne was also kind enough to make time for our podcast, giving us updates on the journey that song took from creation to its release last November. You can check out both of Suzanne's Band's Christmas singles, and the rest of their music, by clicking on the picture on the left!
Tommee Profitt is back with us for his third year in a row. His Christmas album, Birth Of A King, had been in the works since 2005. He created the concept of making an epic soundtrack to what many refer to as the Greatest Story Ever Told. And he assembled an amazing array of artists to bring his vision to fruition. Those artists include Avril Lavigne, Sarah Reeves and Chris Tomlin, just to name a few. You can find out more about Tommee and this project by clicking on the album cover.
Rosalie Drysdale is also back with us a third season. Her album Let Your Heart Be Light is her first Christmas release, and she has prolifically followed that up with more albums and singles, including her version of "Mary Did You Know". You can find out more about her and her music by clicking the album cover and visiting her website.
Laurie Berkner is back for her third time with the Sounds of Christmas. She’s just released her second Christmas album Another Laurie Berkner Christmas. Her previous Christmas album, A Laurie Berkner Christmas, came out around ten years ago, so she said she thought it was time for a sequel! You can find out more about her and her music by clicking the picture on the right!
Paul Kelly is back this year for his second time! He released his first ever Christmas album, Paul Kelly’s Christmas Train, last year, which included an updated version of his popular classic "How To Make Gravy"! This year, he's adding a track ("Maybe This Christmas") to what was already a massive collection! Check it out by clicking the photo on the left!
Cliff Beach is also back for his second season with the Sounds of Christmas. Last year, he released his first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year (filled with covers in several styles, along with the original title track), and this year he’s just released an a cappella version of “Jingle Bells”! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the right!
Dan Ashley also returns for his second season! He has a great Christmas single, a cover of "My Favorite Time Of The Year" (and you may know the original by the Florin Street Band). He also hints to me that there might be a Christmas album in the not-too-distant future! Check out Dan's Christmas single, and his other music, by clicking the picture on the left!
Linda Imperial is also back for her second season with the Sounds of Christmas. She has an original Christmas single called “Christmas You And Me” and she’s hoping to release her version of her favorite Christmas song soon (that’s “Little Drummer Boy”). Find out more about Linda and her music by clicking the picture on the right!
Corinne Cook is also back for her second time. Her Christmas single is “A Soldier’s Holiday” and she hopes it shares the feelings a woman in the military has when the calendar turns to December. You can check out Corinne's Christmas song (and find her other music) by clicking the picture on the left!
Liz Kennedy is back, too, also for her second season. Liz’s Christmas single is “Snowman Moon (A Christmas Crime), which she says she hopes captures that magic that is found in love and also at this very special time of year. You can check it out, along with the rest of Liz's music, by clicking on the picture on the right!
And Deb Bowman returns for her second year with the Sounds of Christmas. Last year, she released her first Christmas album, “A Big Love Holiday”, which, I believe, Deb is planning to take out on tour in December. Find out more about Deb and her music by clicking the picture on the left!
As if that wasn’t enough, there are some super-talented, amazing singers and musicians joining the Sounds of Christmas this year for the first time.
First is the collective known as All Star Kid. I just had a conversation with AdELA in the a late October episode of the Sounds of Christmas podcast, but for those who missed it, All Star Kid has released an album called “A Thankfully Spooktacular Christmas”, which features songs for kids about, as you might’ve guessed, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Check it out by clicking on the picture on the right!
Singer-songwriter Stephen Winston makes his debut with the Sounds of Christmas this year. He says he hopes his single “Winters Breath Warms The Heart”, which recounts a childhood memory, helps everyone revel in the nostalgia of those warm memories of Christmas Past. Check it out by clicking on the picture on the left.
Singer-songwriter Sarah Partridge joins us for the first time this year, following the release of her first Christmas album, “A Partridge In A Pear Tree”, which she said had to be the title, given her last name. You can check it out by clicking on the picture on the right!
Also new this year is Mark Winter, formerly in the 80’s band Illusion. Mark has just released his first Christmas single “Christmas In The Air”. You can check out the single and find out more about Mark by clicking on the photo on the left!
Similarly, the KEITH band is with us for the first time, following the release of their first single “Christmas Magic” (though they hint that their may be more Christmas music on the way - which is always something we like to hear)! Check them out by clicking on the photo on the right!
American Roots Singer/Songwriter Grant Maloy Smith is joining us for the first time this year. His first Christmas album “The Christmas Heart” is just out (and you may also know Grant from his single a few years back, “Fly Possum Fly”! Find out more about Grant and his music by clicking on the photo on the left!
Jazz/pop/standards vocalist Jane Monheit is with us for her first time this year, following the release of her second Christmas album The Merriest. Jane released her first Christmas album, The Season, in 2005, and a follow-up has been on her schedule for years, and when you hear it, you’ll know it was worth waiting for! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the right!
Australian entertainer Rhonda Burchmore and Big Band leader Jack Earle join us for the first time, with their Christmas album A Red Hot Swingin’ Christmas, another Christmas project that was in the works for years, and once you’ll hear it, you’ll know it was worth the wait! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the left!
Matt Molnar is also with us for the first time this year. Matt’s album Some Christmas Songs was picked for USA Today’s Holiday Album List, when it first came out a few years ago. You can check it out for yourself by clicking the photo on the right!
Singer/songwriter Michael Brandmeier joins us for the first time this year, with the release of his single "I See An Angel". Listen for him on an upcoming episode of the Sounds of Christmas for the story behind this song. And check it out for yourself by clicking on the picture on the left!
Guy Maeda is also with us for the first time this year. You may not recognize the name, but you've certainly heard him. He is a professional studio singer and musician and has performed in hundreds of movies, TV Shows, recordings, commercials, and concerts. "The Magic Of The Season" is his first single! You can check it out by clicking on the photo on the right!
Singer/songwriter Blane Howard is also with us for his first season on the Sounds of Christmas. He just released his first Christmas album - Christmas In The Car. You can check it out wherever you stream and download music, and order a CD from his website! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the left!
I am so grateful to all of these artists for helping the Sounds of Christmas get on the air, and stay on the air this season. And while I do play songs from all of them, I also play lots of other songs (our library is over 15,000 and growing every day). Saying thanks to them all here doesn't seem enough, so I've set aside special hours each weekday to feature music from all of the artists that have been so kind as to support us this year, and in year's past (and you can find all of those on our links page above).
Anyway, each weekday at 1am and 7am, and 1pm and 7pm (Eastern), you'll hear an hour's worth of music featuring those singers and bands that have been instrumental in keeping the Sounds of Christmas going.
And while there are many worthy charitable organizations out there, I'm particularly grateful to the American Cancer Society, Feeding America and the Shelter Pet Project for letting me help spread the word about the wonderful work they do. You can click on each of their names to find out more about them.
I also want to thank those that have been so kind as to donate to us through the PayPal link. I wasn't going to mention this, as I didn't want to sound like I was seeking donations, but there have been so many lately, that I couldn't let it go by without acknowledging and expressing my gratitude. I'm adding the link here because some have asked, but I really don't want anyone to feel like I'm asking for donations, or expecting them. The Sounds of Christmas is a free online Christmas music station, and you can listen without every giving us a nickel.
Anyway, each weekday at 1am and 7am, and 1pm and 7pm (Eastern), you'll hear an hour's worth of music featuring those singers and bands that have been instrumental in keeping the Sounds of Christmas going.
And while there are many worthy charitable organizations out there, I'm particularly grateful to the American Cancer Society, Feeding America and the Shelter Pet Project for letting me help spread the word about the wonderful work they do. You can click on each of their names to find out more about them.
I also want to thank those that have been so kind as to donate to us through the PayPal link. I wasn't going to mention this, as I didn't want to sound like I was seeking donations, but there have been so many lately, that I couldn't let it go by without acknowledging and expressing my gratitude. I'm adding the link here because some have asked, but I really don't want anyone to feel like I'm asking for donations, or expecting them. The Sounds of Christmas is a free online Christmas music station, and you can listen without every giving us a nickel.
And now I've saved the best for last.
Thank you for listening. When I started the Sounds of Christmas back in 2007, I had no idea that it would still be going strong so many Christmases later. And it wouldn't be if you weren't tuning in.
Truth is, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed as I take a look at where listeners are tuning in on this Thanksgiving week...
Thank you for listening. When I started the Sounds of Christmas back in 2007, I had no idea that it would still be going strong so many Christmases later. And it wouldn't be if you weren't tuning in.
Truth is, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed as I take a look at where listeners are tuning in on this Thanksgiving week...
Thank you for the kind words, messages, Facebook posts and Tweets. It is a pleasure and an honor to get to spend at least part of the holiday season with so many all over the world.
I hope the Sounds of Christmas brings you joy, makes you smile and enriches your holiday. Knowing you're out there listening certainly does that, and more, for me!
Thank you again. Thank you a million times. And then a million more.
And may you always believe in Santa Claus.
Ken
I hope the Sounds of Christmas brings you joy, makes you smile and enriches your holiday. Knowing you're out there listening certainly does that, and more, for me!
Thank you again. Thank you a million times. And then a million more.
And may you always believe in Santa Claus.
Ken
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