Wayne King was a Chicago band leader in the 1930’s, with an eponymous orchestra playing nightly at the Aragon Ballroom. Never getting as famous as Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw, Mr. King was still hugely popular, especially in his hometown of Savanna, Illinois, which gave him parades, toured his “golden saxophone,” and treated him likeContinue reading “CMOD, Part Five: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Christmas Music of the Day, Part Four: Christmas With the Cambridge Singers
One of my goals with these Christmas music blog posts is to hopefully expand your Christmas musical horizons. So many people have the same albums or artists: Bing Crosby, Perry Como, the first “A Very Special Christmas” collection, the soundtrack to Home Alone. And while I love many of the traditional, best-selling Christmas albums, IContinue reading “Christmas Music of the Day, Part Four: Christmas With the Cambridge Singers”
Christmas Music of the Day, Part Three: Hymns, Carols, and Songs About Snow
It’s been a busy day. Took the kids to the pumpkin patch, the same place we’ve been going since Audrey was about 3 years old. We had a great time, and August really enjoyed it. So there you have it. My excuse for why I’m late today. But here is today’s recommended Christmas album: Continue reading “Christmas Music of the Day, Part Three: Hymns, Carols, and Songs About Snow”
Christmas Music of the Day, Part Two: Let’s Sing a Song of Christmas
Yesterday began my attempt to introduce a Christmas album a day until December 25th. Some nice responses, including one from my sister-in-law, who informed me that her whole family enjoys listening to The Animals’ Christmas, which was my first suggestion. I think that’s a great idea, actually. Most people put Christmas music on just toContinue reading “Christmas Music of the Day, Part Two: Let’s Sing a Song of Christmas”
Christmas Music of the Day: The Animals’ Christmas
I’m a huge fan of Christmas music. It’s one of my favorite genres, ever since I was a child. I grew up listening to a collection from Reader’s Digest, a couple artists whose albums always came out the day after Thanksgiving, and we sang carols together every Christmas Eve. In college, I would blast myContinue reading “Christmas Music of the Day: The Animals’ Christmas”
Kicking the Cable Habit
Cable is expensive. It may lure you with special deals and the promise of HD wonderfulness, but it’s a huge racket. You can enjoy hundreds of channels without paying more than $9.00 a month. And it’s all legal. Here’s how our family kicked the cable habit and ended up saving ourselves more than $1300 aContinue reading “Kicking the Cable Habit”
Duane S. Montague 