A Soul Ever More Grateful For What It Knows Of Love

An updated review of a holiday classic: B.B. KING's A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION OF HOPE. Indeed it is.
by David McGee
 

 
 

45 Years Later, Still Right on Time

The tipoff is in the title: MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH MARTY ROBBINS. One of country's greatest singers is intimately involved in the thoughtful songs he shares with us for the Yuletide including two of his own.
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Royal Sport

In 1907 JACK LONDON sailed to Hawaii in his ketch The Snark. His enthusiastic report on surfing, 'A ROYAL SPORT, rekindled interest in riding the waves in surfing's birthplace and launchied its modern era. Read it here.
by David McGee
 

 
 

From the Desk of Intern Susan:

The story of JEMMY BUTTON, one of the oddest true tales of the 19th century, is the subject of a new children's book. Co-illustrator JENNIFER UMAN discusses the work.
by David McGee
 

 

 

In Which He Keeps Christmas Well

The old curmudgeon, you ask? No, NICK LOWE is now the old sentimentalist, complete with his own Christmas album, QUALITY STREET. Be ye not dismayed: it's unlike other Yule fare.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Half-Century+ of Classic Animated ‘Rudolph’

On Dec. 6, 1964 NBC premiered an animated version of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER with BURL IVES as host. It drew a 50 share and was an instant holiday classic. From a 50 share to 50+ years as a holiday staple, we pay tribute...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Speaking of Family and Cultural Identity

An exclusive JULES interview with award winning illustrator JUANA MARTINEZ NEAL, whose new picture book, ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME, celebrates cultural identity.
by David McGee
 

 
 

LURED (1947)

LUCILLE BALL, GEORGE SANDERS, BORIS KARLOFF, GEORGE ZUCCO and CEDRIC HARDWICKE head a stellar ensemble cast in DOUGLAS SIRK's semi-comedic film noir gem from 1947.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Echoes From A Distant Time

IN ECHO , an ensemble devoted to 16th and 17th century music, offers MUSIC IN A COLD CLIMATE, a selection of songs from a time when the seafaring nations of Northern Europe were connected culturally and commercially by the Hans...
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Strange Adventures and Alluring Music of Alessandro Stradella

An exhaustive appreciation of Alessandro Stradella, one of the most enigmatic, colorful and gifted composers of the 17th Century, from whom Handel borrowed for Israel in Egypt and whose amorous inclinations led to his assassina...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Classic Bennett, Classic Christmas

The headline says it all: Classic Bennett, Classic Christmas. Review updated from 2011.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Man With All the Toys

BRIAN SETZER and his ORCHESTRA return for his sixth Christmas blowout, ROCKIN' RUDOLPH, which lives up to the warm , virtuosic and rockin' high standard the Stray Cat has set for himself at Yuletide
by David McGee