Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

Pt. I: ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ & The Lost Punctuation Mark

What Americans hear when they listen to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' is not anything like what the English peasants meant when they first sang this song more than 500 years ago. So claims best selling author ACE COLLINS.

by David McGee

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Pt. 2: ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ and The Dickens Connection

Ever wonder what is the Christmas carol of Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'? Evidence points to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' as the carol in question. We make our case herein.

by David McGee

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Hark the What? Ironies of a Beloved Carol

REV. MARK D. ROBERTS knows 'If you don’t want to tick people off, then don’t change the words of the hymns and carols.' As he explains, 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' is a perfect example of this maxim.

by David McGee

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How Mr. Chokepear Keeps A Merry Christmas.

From a December 25, 1841 issue of the British humor and satire magazine PUNCH, a story satirizing a heartless one-percenter's self-absorbed Christmas rituals.

by David McGee

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The ‘Quiet Ecstasy’ of Harry Simeone’s ‘Little Drummer Boy’

The story behind THE HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE's classic 'THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY' begins in 1941 with KATHERINE KENNICOTT DAVIS'S 'CAROL OF THE DRUM' and includes a classic Christmas album featuring the oft-covered seasonal favorite.

by David McGee

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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

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Singles Charts and the Battle for Bullets

In our continuing excerpts from MICHAEL SIGMAN's memoir Just Remember: Field Notes from a Music Biz Life, the author recounts the tumult that erupted when Record World dared to print charts reflecting actual record sales.

by David McGee

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The End of the ’60s? Where Do I Begin…

In this installment of his forthcoming memoirs, contributing editor MICHAEL SIGMAN lands a full-time job at RECORD WORLD right out of college, at the very moment sure signals of the '60s' end could not be ignored.

by David McGee

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Brooklyn, Blintzes, Baseball and Ballads With Johnny Mercer (Field Notes From a Music Biz Life)

In chapters 6 and 7 of his memoirs, MICHAEL SIGMAN recalls his father CARL SIGMAN's songwriting apprenticeship with JOHNNY MERCER and how the rocky course of his adolescent years seemed to parallel his dad's hit songs.

by David McGee

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Founder/Publisher/Editor: David McGee

Design/IT: Kieran McGee

Contributing Editors: Billy Altman, Julie Danielson (Jules, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast), Christopher Hill, Robert Hugill (Classical), David Manners, Bob Marovich (Gospel), Derk Richardson, Michael Sigman, Duncan Strauss (Talking Animals), Chip Stern

Mailing Address: Deep Roots, 201 West 85th Street-5B, New York, NY 10024

Email: deeprootsmag@gmail.com

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