Album Notes

Songs from "A Brief History of Christmas Music" was recorded at Studio 21 in Portales, NM Sept/Oct 2011. The 17 songs are from a program I have been performing for the last three years called "A Brief History of Christmas Music" which features information, history and interesting trivia about each song. The program is performed with the help of the audience. For the program to be at its best, the audience must be singing along. Lyric sheets are handed out to audience members prior to the performance. For the past few years at the end of the program I have been asked if the songs are available for purchase, this year I'll finally get to answer "yes!"

I had a lot of help in the making of this album and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to come to the studio and share their talents. The children who sang on Must Be Santa are Rebecca Christensen, Dayton Miles, Addison and Elijah Pritchett and Kayla Sturm. I'd also like to thank the parents for letting me borrow their kids for a little while and for bringing them over to the studio.

For the harmony vocals I have two very talented gentlemen to thank. Don Thomas, who sang the harmonies on The Man Who Would Be Santa, and is a man that I am truly proud to call my friend, did an outstanding job despite the fact that he had a frog in his throat and other much more important things on his mind. Thanks Don! All the other harmonies were beautifully and skillfully done by Joshua Belter, who has been my good friend and musical companion for nearly 20 years! If you like the sounds that Josh and I make together check out our other singles and album releases as the band Fast Time Constant (FTC). Josh did such an outstanding job on so many songs that it seemed only fitting to add his name to the front of the album.

Finally, thanks to Anne for being the best "spousal equivalent" a guy could ask for. Her patience, love and encouragement are about all I need.