MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM. . .

CHER

Leave it to the one and only Cher to make us realize that the world doesn't have a proper Christmas disco song. The legendary pop icon has released "DJ Play a Christmas Song" with this dance track just one of the songs from her very first holiday album, appropreiately titled, "Christmas". And just like she has done throughout her extraordinary career of seven decades, this collection features various genres of music she has dabbled in throughout her recording career. The album is a perfect mix of new songs and Christmas covers with special appearances by Michael Bublé, Tyga, Cyndi Lauper and Stevie Wonder who lend their support on several songs. And there is a cover of the Christmas classic, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" which is now a duet with the song's original singer, Darlene Love.  The two singers have known each other since the beginning of their professional careers when a teenage Cher performed backing vocals on Love's 1963 version.

BRANDY

Now signed to Motown Records, the gifted actor and singer, Brandy has released her very first Christmas album as her debut on the legendary music label. "Christmas With Brandy" is a perfect mix of original compositions (all co-wriiten by Brandy) and holiday classics, all done in her signature style of smooth, soulful vocals. Brandy is making this record a true family affair with the addition of her twenty-one year old daughter, Sy'Rai, a rising singer in her own right, who appears on the original track, "Christmas Gift" in a rousing duet. And be sure to check out Brandy as an actress in the Netflix holiday comedy, "Best. Christmas. Ever.", available to stream now.

RUPAUL

The legacy of RuPaul has grown considerable since his first album, "Super Model of the World" way back in 1993. From the groundbreaking reality competition television show, "RuPaul's Drag Race", expanding continuiously with international spin-offs to once the face of major cosmetics campaign to a co-host of a morning radio show to hosting a game show to receiving a Tony Award for "Best Musical" as a producer to writing an upcoming memoir, RuPaul has achieved many amazing accomplishments that some might have thought would be impossible for a drag queen. Now the new "Essential Christmas" is essentially a greatest hits from RuPaul's previous three holiday-themed albums. But there is one new song, "Baby Doll", another fun, beat-driven Christmas tune.



And finally, here is a brand-new music video of Brenda Lee's classic holiday tune, "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree". This lively clip features Lee performing in a family setting during the Christmas holiday with appearances by country music stars, Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker. But the biggest news is that the now seventy-nine year old vocalist has finally reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Rocking", sixty-five years after first recording this song at the incredible age of thirteen.

WELCOME BACK

DARLENE LOVE

The voice of Darlene Love is one of the most recognizable in the rock & roll era. She can be heard on some of most popular songs ever recorded and this was revealed in the Oscar-winning documentary, "20 Feet From Stardom" which put a long overdue spotlight on the singer. Producer Phil Spector (who Love is most closely associated) recognized her amazing gifts and used them frequently on much of his now classic work throughout the 1960's.

Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band also recognized her great talent. He had encouraged Love to try New York when she was attempting a comeback in the early '80's after falling in to obscurity during the late '70's. This move lead to her joining the Broadway jukebox musical, "Leader of The Pack" and revitalizing her career. Now, Van Zandt is back lending a helping hand. He has produced Love's first studio album in thirty years and it's appropriately titled "Introducing Darlene Love". This wonderful collection puts the seventy-four year old singer front and center after spending most of her career performing background vocals for other singers. The songs range from pop, rock, gospel and Phil Spector. Love does a cover of "River Deep, Mountain High", a song she provided back-up on the original Spector production performed by Tina Turner.

Take a look at this cute video for the first single, "Forbidden Nights". It features cameos by some of the rock legends that contributed songs for the new album including Joan Jett, Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen. Be on the lookout for a few other famous faces here:



KEITH RICHARDS

Keith Richards has spent over fifty years as a member of "the greatest rock & roll band on Earth", The Rolling Stones. Although he would perform the occasional lead vocal on tracks throughout the years on Stones albums, the focus for Richards was songwriting and playing guitar while leaving the rock-star stuff to Mick Jagger.

It wasn't until a tense falling out with Jagger in 1986 over putting his solo career ahead of the Stones that he decided to work on his own music. Richards formed a band, the X-Pensive Winos and released his critically acclaimed solo debut, "Talk Is Cheap" in 1988 which he co-wrote and produced with Steve Jordan. These two long-time friends obviously kissed and made up as the Rolling Stones continue to rock this very day. But now, twenty-three years after his second album, "Main Offender", Richards has just released another solo recording, "Crosseyed Heart" before the Stones hit the road next year. The seventy-one year old, back with his band and co-producer Jordan, isn't worried about commercial appeal. He's covering music that he loves like country, reggae and the blues that you won't hear often on your average Rolling Stones record.

Rumor has it that Richards may try to squeeze in a few concert dates this year to promote the album so be on the lookout. In the meantime, listen to one of the highlights from the album. It's a blues ballad that Richards performs as a scorching duet with another singer we haven't heard from in quite a while; Norah Jones:

"Illusion" - Keith Richards & Norah Jones (2015) mp3

TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM

"20 Feet From Stardom" is a dazzling new documentary about the unsung heroes of the music business; the back-up singer. This film by Morgan Neville brings long overdue attention to these (mostly) female vocalists who use their gifts to not only enhance the lead but help deliver some unforgettable musical moments. Sometimes their contributions can even be the most memorable component about a song. Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Sting, Stevie Wonder and Bette Midler are just a few of the very well-known performers who appear to sing the praises of these under appreciated  musicians.

The film interviews long-time background singers such as Tata Vega, Gloria Jones, Janice Pendarvis, Cindy Mizelle, Claudia Lennear and The Waters family. Some of these names may not be familiar to you but you'll most certainly recognize their voices. The spotlight in this feature is placed on a few notable singers, Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Judith Hill. The twenty-nine year old Hill is the youngest here and you may remember her as a contestant on the fourth season of "The Voice". Although she didn't win the competition, Ms Hill is still out there, struggling to make it as solo performer. But in the meantime, she will still occasionally take a few gigs as a back-up vocalist in order to make ends meet.

"20 Feet From Stardom" is slowly rolling out across the country, so be sure to check it out when it hits your area.



Now I'm going to put my own spotlight on the other three veteran performers:

DARLENE LOVE

Darlene Wright grew up in Los Angeles and developed her singing in her local church as a child. While still in high school, she joined an all-girl group, The Blossoms. The trio caught the attention of music producer Phil Spector and began using them to provide vocals on his records in 1962. They soon became very sought after background vocalists and can be heard on many hit records of the early sixties. Darlene was renamed "Love" by Spector and he used her to sing the leads on the songs, "He's A Rebel' and "He's Sure The Boy I Love" but gave the credit to his girl group, The Crystals. After difficulty with Spector and never being able to achieve great success as a solo performer, Love walked away from the business. By the 1980's Darlene Love returned to music but also displayed her talents in films (the "Lethal Weapon" movies) and the stage ("Leader of The Pack"). Love recorded a holiday song, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for a Phil Spector Christmas album in 1963 that has become her signature tune and  has sung this classic on David Letterman's show every year since 1986. Darlene Love was finally inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011

Here is Darlene Love's first major hit but it's credited to The Crystals:



MERRY CLAYTON

Best known as the powerful female voice behind the 1969 Rolling Stones song, "Gimme Shelter", Merry Clayton made her first recording at thirteen with "Who Can I Count On (When I Can't Count On You)",  a duet with pop star, Bobby Darin in 1962. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and Clayton's first big break came when she became one of The Raelettes, Ray Charles's background singers. She went on to work with a variety of musicians such as Neil Young, Tom Jones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Cocker and Carole King. Clayton has recorded six albums as a solo performer over the years but none of them would become a major breakthrough for this talented singer. She also turned to acting and has appeared in the 1987 film, "Maid To Order' and television shows such as "Cagney & Lacey.

This is Merry's stirring solo version of "Gimme Shelter" that appeared on her debut album in 1969:



LISA FISCHER

Brooklyn born and bred, Lisa Fischer first started her music career out under the name "Xēna" and performed dance music. She later went on to do background work for some of her idols; Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass, Roberta Flack and most notably, Luther Vandross. Fischer had the opportunity to record a solo album, "So Intense" in 1991 and it was highly successful with the single, "How Can I Ease The Pain" reaching number one on the r&b chart and earning the singer a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. However, when it came time for a follow-up, Fischer had second thoughts about being in the spotlight and realized she preferred life in the background. Lisa Fischer continued as a much sought-after session singer and touring vocalist. She performed background for Vandross on tour for twenty-two years up until his death as well as being part of every Rolling Stones tour (including their current one) since 1989.

Here is the music video for the award-winning song, "How Can I Ease The Pain":