Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Christmas Celebrations – Music for Christmas and New Year – Part Two – I’ll Be Home for Christmas

William Price King shares some of the classic Christmas music that has entertained us all at this time of year..

Today one of the most popular Christmas songs that was written over 75 years ago to boost the morale of soldiers serving on the front line. Since then it has become one of the most recorded songs and graces nearly every top artist’s Christmas albums.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas was written by lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent with Buck Ram listed as co-writer of the original poem and song.

In October of 1943, Bing Crosby recorded the song for Decca records and within weeks it was in the charts and stayed in the top 20 through the next year. Originally intended for the soldiers serving overseas to boost morale it went on to become a Christmas favourite.. Whilst the American troops enjoyed the song and made it one of their own, the BBC banned it in case it lowered the morale of the British forces as it was felt being home for Christmas was not an option at this stage of the war.

However, despite their efforts the song was heard all over the world and it has been recorded over the decades by over 150 of the top musicians across several styles. These include Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, The Carpenters, Celtic Woman, Diana Krall and Whitney Houston.

Here is a favourite version of the song by Michael Bublé – Amazon

About William Price King

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

His debut jazz album was entitled “Home,” and was a collection of contemporary compositions he composed, with lyrics written by his wife Jeanne King. His second album was a Duo (Voice and Guitar) with Eric Sempé on the guitar. This album included original songs as well as well known standards from contemporary jazz and pop artists. The “King-Sempé” duo toured France and thrilled audiences for more than three years before going their separate ways. King has formed a new duo with French/Greek guitarist Manolis, and is now exploring new ideas, in a smooth jazz/soul/folk direction.

In addition to singing and composing, King has been collaborating with author Sally Cronin over the past few years on her blog “Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life,” with the series “A Man And His Music – Jazz, Contemporary, Classical, and Legends” and now, the “William Price King Music Column.” Working with author Sally Cronin has been an exhilarating experience in many ways and has brought a new dimension to King’s creative life. King has also created a micro blog, “Improvisation,” which features and introduces mostly jazz artists from across the jazz spectrum who have made considerable contributions in the world of jazz; and also artwork from painters who have made their mark in the world of art. This micro blog can be found on Tumblr.

His vocal mentors are two of the greatest giants in jazz, Nat King Cole and Mel Tormé. King has a distinctive wide-ranging voice which displays a remarkable technical facility and emotional depth.

William Price King on Tumblr – IMPROVISATION – https://williampriceking.tumblr.com

Connect with William

Website – http://www.williampriceking.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WilliamPriceKing
Twitter – https://twitter.com/wpkofficial
Regular Venue – http://cave-wilson.com/ 
ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/william-price-king/id788678484

You can find all of the Music Column series in this directory: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/william-price-king-music-colum