Deep Roots Magazine

 
 

 
Sing We Now of Christmas
James Lord Pierpont

The Murky Origins & Everlasting Life of ‘Jingle Bells’

In 1850 JAMES LORD PIERPONT, inspired by one-horse open-sleigh races in his home town, wrote a Thanksgiving ditty for his father's Sunday School class. Thus the humble origin of 'Jingle Bells.'
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
suns ding dong

Ding Dong, Merrily On High, Indeed!

Returned to print by Real Gone Music, THE THREE SUNS' amazing 1959 seasonal effort, A DING DONG DANDY CHRISTMAS, is lounge exotica run amuck, a genuine Yuletide gem.
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
Self adhesive1 1974 USA 1552 featured copy

Christmas 1974: Santa (USPS) Brings the 1st Self-Adhesive Stamp

Those self-adhesive stamps we so love? Christmas 1974 brought the first of what were then considered experimental issues, featuring the Dove of Peace weathervane from George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Much trial-and-error ...
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
Do You Hear Capitol Single

A Christmas Classic For A Nuclear Armageddon

The classic DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR, inspired by the Cuban Missile Crisis, was intended as 'a prayer for peace.' The story behind the story herein.
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
ellington strayhorn featured

The Ellingtonian ‘Nutcracker’

An appreciation of THE NUTCRACKER SUITE as DUKE ELLINGTON & BILLY STRAYHORN reimagined it in 1960 and of a new take by THE HARMONIA ENSEMBLE conducted by STEVEN RICHMOND.
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
B.B. Christmas Celebration

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
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
elvis christmas album1956

The Deep Roots Yuletide Baedeker 2021

The one, the only, the Deep Roots Yuletide Baedeker for 2022 is hot off the presses. Your guide to everything vital to nourish the spirit during the holiday season--our Christmas best to you!
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
Ventures Christmas Album cover

A League of Their Own

Hailed as 'so very inventive and so very weird,' THE VENTURES' CHRISTMAS ALBUM is a true holiday treasure.
by David McGee
 
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Features / News
003 plate copy

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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Sing We Now of Christmas
brian setzer rockin rudolph

The Man With All the Toys

Updated for Yuletide 2020, BRIAN SETZER's 2015 holiday gem, ROCKIN' RUDOLPH, shows off the master showman and ace guitarist at his best, along with his hard-working, gifted elves (the Orchestra), rocks and croons masterfully on...
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
Regina Belle Colorful Christmas

The Beauty of Belle at Yuletide

  By Robert M. Marovich   MY COLORFUL CHRISTMAS Regina Belle Tashi3  Entertainment/Altavoz Distribution http://iamreginabelle.com/   My Colorful Christmas, the first yuletide album from GRAMMY Awardee Regina Bel...
by David McGee
 
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Sing We Now of Christmas
toby keith classic christmas1

When Toby Did Christmas Well

TOBY KEITH is very much alive on the three Christmas albums in his hit-filled catalogue.
by David McGee
 
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