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King Records Christmas special

In honor of the importance of King Records, I decided to devote this year's Christmas special to some of the talented musicians who recorded at King.  This year's one-hour Christmas special will air on Saturday night, Christmas Eve, at 11pm and be repeated on Christmas Day, December 25th at 7pm.

The special begins with a recitation of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by legendary King Records drummer Philip Paul.  This reading is followed by James Brown's "Signs of Christmas," and later in the show you'll hear Brown's holiday song, "Merry Christmas, I Love You." Other popular King Records rhythm and blues recording artists include Bill Doggett, Hank Ballard, Charles Brown, and Freddie King.  

If you enjoy country and bluegrass music, you'll be treated to songs by the Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, and Cowboy Copas.  There are also several songs by musicians you may not have heard of like Lillian Brooks, Amos Wilburn, and the Soul Comforters.

Merry Christmas! 

Playlist:

  1. Philip Paul | reading | Twas the Night before Christmas | WVXU studio
  2. James Brown | Signs of Christmas | The Best of James Brown: The Christmas Collection | Universal Records
  3. Bill Doggett | Jingle Bells (Instrumental) | A Rhythm & Blues Christmas | Gusto Records
  4. Lillian Brooks | Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star | 24 Greatest R&B Christmas Hits | Gusto Records
  5. Charles Brown | Merry Christmas Baby | R&B Christmas Super Hits | Gusto Records
  6. Freddie King | Christmas Tears | R&B Christmas Super Hits | Gusto Records
  7. Billy Ward & the Dominoes | O Holy Night | A Rhythm & Blues Christmas | Gusto Records
  8. Hank Ballard | Christmas Time for Everybody But Me | Please Come Home for Christmas | Gusto Records
  9. Gatemouth Moore | Christmas Blues | A Rhythm & Blues Christmas | Gusto Records
  10. Amos Wilburn | Christmas Comes But Once a Year | 24 Greatest R&B Christmas Hits | Gusto Records
  11. Mabel Scott | Boogie Woogie Santa Claus | R&B Christmas Super Hits | Gusto Records
  12. Soul Comforters | When Was Jesus Born | A Rhythm & Blues Christmas | Gusto Records
  13. King Karolers | Adeste Fideles | 24 Greatest R&B Christmas Hits | Gusto Records
  14. Reno and Smiley | Jingle Bells | The True Meaning of Christmas | Gusto Records
  15. Reno and Smiley | Christmas Reunion | The True Meaning of Christmas | Gusto Records
  16. Stanley Brothers | Christmas is Near | Christmas Where the Grass is Blue | Independent
  17. Cowboy Copas | White Christmas | Country Christmas with a Twang and a Drawl | Independent
  18. Bubber Johnson | Let's Make Every Day a Christmas Day | Please Come Home for Christmas | Gusto Records
  19. Lowell Fulson | Lonesome Christmas, Part 1 | 24 Greatest R&B Christmas Hits | Gusto Records
  20. James Brown | Merry Christmas, I Love You | The Best of James Brown: The Christmas Collection | Universal Records
  21. Freddie King | I Hear Jingle Bells | A Rhythm & Blues Christmas | Gusto Records
  22. Charles Brown | Please Come Home for Christmas | Please Come Home for Christmas | Gusto Records
  23. Todd Rhodes | Blues for the Red Boy | Very Best of King.Federal.Deluxe, vol.2 | Collectables