The stockings are hung in stores with care, the commercials have begun to take over television broadcasts and at least one radio station in Western New York has begun playing Christmas music. Yes, the holiday season is upon us.
Here at All WNY Radio, we're going to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start playing Christmas music. But before we can do that, we need Christmas music from local bands. So we're putting out a call to arms -- and legs if need be -- for Christmas tunes from WNY artists.
While All WNY Radio does not typically play cover songs, we understand that there just isn't much original Christmas music written by local bands. Plus, people want to hear the classics. That said, music licensing is tricky and we're allergic to lawsuits. So we're asking for only songs that are in the public domain. A list follows of some of the more popular ones.
Adeste Fideles
Angels We Have Heard on High
Auld Lang Syne
Away In a Manger
Deck the Halls
First Noel
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Hark ! The Herald Angels Sing
Here We Come A-Caroling
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Jingle Bells
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Joy to the World
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come, O Come, Emanuel
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent Night
Toyland
Twelve Days of Christmas
Up on the Housetop
Wassail Song
We Three Kings
What Child is This?
Some songs might seem like they'd be public domain, but they are not. They include:
A Holly Jolly Christmas
All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Feliz Navidad
Frosty The Snowman
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Here Comes Santa Claus
I'll Be Home For Christmas
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Jinglebell Rock
Let It Snow
Little Drummer Boy
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Silver Bells
Sleigh Ride
The Christmas Song
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
Of course, we'd love to have original Christmas music as well. We'd also be happy to play Hanukkah music, Kwanzaa music, Festivus music, or any other recognized holiday of the season.
Our hope is that we can have enough music from enough artists to offer an hour a day of Christmas music beginning Nov. 25.
So bands, send in our tracks! Just go to http://www.allwnyradio.com/p/submit.html to submit your tunes. Be sure to fill out the pertinent information in the form.
Jen Vanduzer is a wonderful lady who has devoted herself to her students at Boulevard Music Lessons and Performing Arts, and has just taken on the role as Owner of Performing Arts as well! Her smile, charm, and hard work are what has created a following for her teachings and she has all of her students coming together this upcoming Sunday at the beautiful Hard Rock Cafe for a wonderful recital!
Weather you're a family friend of one of her students, or just want to see the next generation of local musicians, reserve yourself a table before they are all taken. I promise you, these kids are going to blow you away!
Also, be on the lookout for some more awesome things under Jen's new lead at one of the best places for Music Lessons around at Facebook.com/PerformingArtsMusic.
Greg Burt is a Concert Promoter/Sound Guy/Music Supporter/Keyboardist/etc. He can be reached at Greg@FTMPEvents.com. For the full FTMP show calendar, visit www.FTMPEvents.com.
Grammy Award-winning artist Tony Bennett will play a one-night-only performance at UB Center for the Arts on Dec. 17. The 8 p.m. show will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charity.
Bennett's initial successes came via a string of Columbia singles in the early 1950's, including such chart-toppers as "Because of You," "Rags to Riches," and a remake of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart." He had 24 songs in the Top 40, including: "I Wanna Be Around," "The Good Life," "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)?" and his signature song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," which garnered him the first two of his 19 Grammy Awards. Tony Bennett is one of only a handful of artists to have new albums charting in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and 10's. He introduced a multitude of songs into the great American Songbook that have since become pop music classics.
Locally presented by The Derico of East Amherst Corporation, concert proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo. Since opening its doors to families of seriously ill or injured children, the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo has provided comfortable, affordable lodging for 18,000 families from Western New York and around the world. The Ronald McDonald House is a family's "home-away-from-home" when their child requires specialized medical care at a Buffalo hospital.
Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts box office (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays), online at www.ubcfa.org or by phone 1-888-223-6000.
This week's featured event is Nietzsche's FolkFest 2016 from Wednesday through Sunday.
Over 50 acts are ready to bring the Folk this Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday at Nietzsche's for their first-ever FolkFest! $5 cover each day gets you in to witness a collection of Buffalo's best!
Some highlights include
Wednesday / Tyler Westcott, Sam Marabella and his Band, Folkfaces, & Green Schwinn
Thursday / A Will...And Away, Davey O., Jungle Steve, & Jack Topht
Friday / Rear View Ramblers & The Observers
Saturday / The Steam Donkeys, Rob Falgiano Duo, & PA Line
Sunday / Porcelain Train, The Heenan Brothers, & Tiny Rhymes
Don't miss your chance to get your Folk on all week long at one of 716's best venues!
Greg Burt is a Concert Promoter/Sound Guy/Music Supporter/Keyboardist/etc. He can be reached at Greg@FTMPEvents.com. For the full FTMP show calendar, visit www.FTMPEvents.com.
This is one from the vault. All WNY Radio's Scott Leffler and ThinkSoJoe sing "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy at one of All WNY Radio's House Parties. This was probably either 2007 or 2008.