Just asking…
Have you been listening to Hawaii’s Christmas radio station, KSSK, to reminisce the yuletide via songs old and new?
I’ve been loving the walk down memory lane, to hear traditional carols alongside pop and rock Christmas fare.
More importantly, since I downsized a couple of years ago, I no longer have a stash of vinyl 33 1/3 discs that I’d haul out every December. I tried to update, without much success, rereleases of popular titles available on CD. I kept a few LPs but not 45s.
So the outpouring of sentimental journeys, via KSSK, has made it a blissful holiday.
Yuletide melodies get you into the holiday spirit. Bing Crosby. Perry Como. Dean Martin. Andy Williams. Gene Autry. Karen Carpenter and The Carpenters, principally Karen Carpenter, Bobby Helms. All silenced by death, but back to the future via holiday classics.
Oh holy nights and days.
Happily, the king of Christmas serenading – Johnny Mathis – provided many signature hits. He’s one of the greats still alive. Add Brenda Lee, Mariah Carey, Michael Buble and Pentatonix for today’s bank of Christmas crooners.In the mix: local tracks by Henry Kapono, Gail Mack, Willie K, The Brothers Cazimero.
So to these singers and the stations that share them, mahalo plenty. And Mele Kalikimaka!