Musicman-ia

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The MJ Show #18 (A Motown/R&B/Soul Christmas)

I've always loved Motown, Sould and R&B music.
Tonight, I have some of the finest Motown, R&B and Soul artists giving you some of the finest Christmas hits!

Gotta kick things off with one of the biggest Motown bands ever eh?
Here we go!!!
1st Song - Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town #TheMJshow

Another great talent from the Motown catalog...someone who's inspired thousands of singers around the world is without a doubt the great Stevie Wonder.
Here's his take on a classic.
2nd Song - Stevie Wonder - Ave Maria #TheMJshow

One of my favourite Christmas classics has always been the song about the red nosed little reindeer. :)
Here's The Temptations' take on the song!
3rd Song - The Temptations - Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer #TheMJshow

Another Christmas classic I LOVE is a song called "Silver Bells". The Supremes had a ton of hits for Motown.
Here's their take on Silver Bells.
4th Song - The Supremes - Silver Bells #TheMJshow

Smokey Robinson was called the "King of Motown." Other than Berry Gordy, the man who started Motown, he was probably the most important man in Motown history. His contributions to Motown...and to music are massive.
Here he is with his band, The Miracles taking on a true Christmas classic!
5th Song - Miracles - Deck The Halls / Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella #TheMJshow

Did you know...in 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Marvin Gaye #6 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time, and ranked #18 on 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
He was also known for fighting the hit-making but restrictive Motown process in which performers and songwriters and producers were kept separate. He proved with albums like his 1971 What's Going On and his 1973 Let's Get It On that he was able to produce music without relying on the system, inspiring fellow Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to do the same.
Here he is, Mr.Marvin Gaye...with another Christmas classic!
6th Song - Marvin Gaye - I Want To Come Home For Christmas #TheMJshow

Okay, I'll admit it, it's not like Kim Weston had any great super massive hits...but I like this song she's sung.
7th Song - Kim Weston - Wish You A Merry Christmas #TheMJshow

Two relatively newer artists on the Motown roster. Check out this Christmas classic done by Boy II Men and Brian McKnight!
8th Song - Boyz II Men & Brian McKnight - Let It Snow #TheMJshow

Diana Ross had a massively successful career after leaving the Supremes in 1970. Music, film, television and Broadway ...everything she did was a hit!
Here's a song by her.
9th Song - Diana Ross - This Christmas #TheMJshow

You've heard the next song I have for you in The Sound Of Music...but I BET you've not ever heard it sung like the next man here does it!
10th Song - Luther Vandross - My Favorite Things #TheMJshow

Mahalia Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and is the first Queen of Gospel Music. She had tons of hits and has sold millions of albums! Here she is, doing a Christmas classic!
11th Song - Mahalia Jackson - Silent Night #TheMJshow

My next singer has won six Grammy Awards and has sold over 40 million records worldwide! Her biggest his was the number-one smash hit "Un-Break My Heart"...but here she is with a song from her Christmas album, Snowflakes.
12th Song - Toni Braxton - Snowflakes Of Love #TheMJshow

"The Queen of Soul" is who I have for you now. In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Franklin #1 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time.
Here is taking on a beautiful Christmas song!
13th Song - Aretha Franklin - Joy To The World #TheMJshow

"The Godfather of Soul"..."the hardest working man in show business" is up next baby! Wooooo! Are you ready?!
14th Song - James Brown - Soulful Christmas #TheMJshow

The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles. The Funk Brothers played on Motown hits such as "My Girl", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Baby Love", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "The Tears of a Clown", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave".
The role of the Funk Brothers is described in Paul Justman's 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, based on Allan Slutsky's book of the same name. The opening titles proclaim the Funk Brothers as "having played on more number-one hits than The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys combined."
Incredible isn't it!? :)
Here they are taking on a Christmas classic to end the night!
15th Song - The Funk Brothers - Winter Wonderland #TheMJshow

Here's a fabulous album you must pick up!
R&B Christmas Hits - an album put out this year by @sonymusicindia

Merry Christmas to you all once again. I have a couple more Christmas specials and I'm going to give them to you on Christmas Day!
I have the Oldies Special yet to come and a surprise gift for all your music lovers! :)

This is your "Musicman" Mihir and I'll see you again soon...
Take care...and...Merry Christmas!!!