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Inside the Music                                                   January 2022

Well folks the holidays are upon us, and I hope everyone is preparing for a wonderful holiday season with family and friends! It is a magical time of the year, but it can also be very stressful and hectic if we let it. Be sure to take the time to spend with your loved ones as we never know what the future holds. We are not promised tomorrow, so be sure to spend time with your family and friends and enjoy this wonderful time of the year! Also don’t forget the true meaning of the Christmas season.; the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He truly is the reason for the season! 

 

With that being said, this time of the year always gives us some new Christmas releases from our talented Beach Music artists and this year is no exception! We will focus this month on Christmas releases and pick back up in January with our regular reviews, so let’s go Inside The Music: The Christmas Edition shall we?

 

Here Comes Christmas - Deb Browning 

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Fresh off her Rising Star win at the Carolina Beach Music Awards, Deb Browning has released her first Christmas CD entitled “Here Comes Christmas”.  The new release features two original songs plus eight holiday classics. 

 

The new release was kicked off with a CD release party at Fat Harold’s on December 2nd which was emceed by Ray Scott of Riptide Radio and Eric Bowman of WDZD in Monroe, N.C. Several guest artists were in attendance including Marlisa Kay Small, Gary Lowder, Keith Stone, Marsha Morgan, and even a surprise appearance from Jim Quick! There was also an appearance from Charlie Womble and Jackie McGee who shagged to Winter Wonderland! That couple can dance to anything!  I know a Large Time was had by all!

 

The CD release party was followed by the World Premiere of Deb’s new video “All Over The World” which debuted on Eric Bowman’s New Beach Music Countdown on Saturday December 4th. The video and song received rave reviews and I can’ tell you folks it’s outstanding! One of the best Christmas releases to hit our market in years! Featuring R. Mark Black on saxophone, tip of the spear production from Tim Sidden, and an unforgettable vocal performance from Deb; “All Over The World” is an instant Christmas classic! 

 

“All Over The World”, as well as the CD, is dedicated to Deb’s late father, who according to Deb, was a man of great faith. He would often talk about the fruits of the Spirit, which is what “All Over The World” is about, spreading the fruits of the Sprit all over the world! What a better place this world would be if we would all do that! Deb said that she had always wanted to write a contemporary Christian song and this project gave her the opportunity to do that; mixed in with a great Christmas message as well. “All Around The World” is worth the price of this CD alone but wait; there’s more! 

 

The CD also features Deb's original tune "Here Comes Amazon", which was released last year. This is a fun Christmas tune which was written during the pandemic when so many shoppers turned to Amazon for their shopping needs, and now they are hooked on Amazon! 

 

The release also includes Deb's rendition of the holiday classics: "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree", "Jingle Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "Go Tell It On The Mountain", "Blue Christmas", "Jingle Bell Rock", and "Silent Night".

 

Jim Quick joins in on the fun as he joins Deb for the rockin' duet "Santa Claus Is Back In Town". Featuring amazing vocal performances from both Deb and Jim, this tune rocks from start to finish! I think I even hear a B3 mixed in! I hope we see these two team up again the near future, because when they do, Beach Music magic happens!

 

Folks I sometimes feel as if I run out of superlatives to describe a project, and this is one of those times. This CD release is as good as it gets. Deb Browning and Tim Sidden have been working on this project since July and the end result is well worth the wait! The hard work has paid off with a collection of ten outstanding tunes that you will want to add to your Christmas collection. The production on this project is second to none, and the musicians used on this project are some of the best in the business. Deb gives us fresh new takes on the classics, the duet with Jim Quick is Beach Music Christmas magic, and "All Over The World" is worthy of contemporary Christian radio airplay! 

 

"Here Comes Christmas" is available for download at http://www.debbrowningmusic.com  where you can also find the video for "All Over The World" as well as Deb's other videos. If you prefer a hard copy of the CD they are available at Southern Threads in North Myrtle Beach or at Southern Threads website which is http://www.southernthreadsonmain.com  Do yourself a favor and add this CD to your holiday music collection today! You will be so glad you did!

 

Well done Deb Browning! Your father would be very proud!

 

Santa Likes To Shag - Doyle Wood

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Another tune that debuted on Eric Bowman's New Beach Music Countdown on Saturday December 4th was Doyle Wood's "Santa Likes To Shag". Written by Laura Stevens, and featuring Doyle Wood on the lead vocal, folks this song has it all: tip of the spear production, outstanding instrumentation, and a boogie woogie shag beat that will just drag you to the dance floor. The studio musicians on this project did a masterful job with Milton Smith on piano and B3, Richard Gates on drums and percussion, Mike Daniels on bass guitar, and Dr. Ted Ray on the smoking saxophone! You will definitely want to add this fun tune to your holiday collection! Also be sure to check out the video on You Tube as well. Who knew Santa liked to shag? Well done guys!

 

Christmas On The Bayou - Sylvia Johns Ritchie

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Yet another tune and video that debuted on Eric Bowman's New Beach Music Countdown was Sylvia Johns Ritchie's "Christmas On The Bayou". This tune was written by Sylvia about her time living in Louisiana when the Cajun Santa, Papa Noel, would bring the children presents. This is another fun tune that you will want to add to your collection as it features a rockin' zydeco beat accompanied by Sylvia banging on those 88's! The tune is available on I Tunes for download and be sure to check out the new video for the song on You Tube.

 

Christmastime Memories - The Embers featuring Craig Woolard

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Craig Woolard and Tim Cashion recently hit #1 on Eric Bowman's New Beach Music Countdown with the Charlie Sattenfield penned original tune "Summertime Memories". Well Craig and Charlie are back at it again with the title track of the new Embers Christmas CD "Christmastime Memories". The tune is virtually the same as "Summertime Memories" but just replaces those Summertime memories with Christmastime memories! I would only trade my Summertime memories for Christmastime memories!!

 

The Embers new Christmas CD features nine other tunes including "Merry Christmas Baby", "This Time Of Year", "All I Want For Christmas Is You", "Ava Maria", "Driving Home For Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Please Come Home For Christmas", "Birthday Of A King" and "Feliz Navidad".

 

Be sure to check out The Embers – Beach Music for availability of this project as well as the schedule for The Embers Christmas Show. If you've never had the opportunity to see The Embers Christmas Show, make it a part of your holiday plans this year! You will be glad you did!

 

Christmas Eve 2021 - Russell Thompkin's Jr.

 

The incomparable Russell Thompkin's Jr. gives us a fresh take on "Christmas Eve 2021". Russell sang this entire song in two takes! Both the background and lead vocals! Absolutely amazing! This tune is another high-quality project from Chris Biehler and the studios of Forevermore Music. Russell Thompkin's Jr, has blessed us with so many musical memories in the past and he continues to build on his legacy by giving us another memorable Christmas tune. Two other bonus Stylistics Christmas tunes you should dig up and add to your holiday playlist: "Christmas With My Baby" is one of my all-time Christmas favorites and "Christmas With Love" features an absolutely stunning vocal performance from Russell that will bring tears to your eyes. Thank you Chris Biehler and Russell Thompkin's Jr. for sharing your amazing talent with the Beach Music community! We are lucky to have you both!

 

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus -Russell Henry

White Christmas - Russell Henry

 

While these are two older songs Russell recorded, they are definitely worth bringing out to your holiday playlist! "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was recorded with Biil Pinkney's Original Drifters and included on the "Christmas With The Drifters" release. "White Christmas" was recorded at Sand City Studios as a tribute to Bill Pinkney and the song that got him his job in 1966/1967 when Bill asked Russell to sing it with them and Bill offered Russell a job! What a story!! 

 

Well folks that's it for this month! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season filled with family and friends! We will see you next month when we will once again go Inside The Music!

 

Merry Christmas!!

 

See ya at the beach!

 

Craig

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