ONE OF MY FAVORITE SINGERS, SINGING CHRISTMAS..and A GREAT GIVEAWAY

I am so sorry that I have missed a few days posting. We had some GIANT projects that had to be done. They took every ounce of energy that I had.

Wednesday night I will have more trees to show you. We have a gingerbread tree almost finished and will do a gorgeous tree tomorrow. Wednesday night will be filled with tree pictures and a FEW TIPS!

BUT tonight I have a special surprise to share with you. An old friend of mine has recently moved to Shreveport. I have known him as a wonderful singer for 20 years and was so excited to hear that he was making a new HOLIDAY CD! Anyone that reads the blog, knows that I LOVE Christmas music. He now has his website up and samples of some of the songs. They are wonderful. And on a side note, he just married a friend of mine. As I was listening to his CD, I realized I was hearing a man not only in love with the BABY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING, but also a man
MADLY in LOVE!!! I think that makes this CD even more special!

Please visit his site..jeoffreybenward.com then come back here and tell me in the comments that you made a visit! I would love to know which song you liked best.
Then on Thanksgiving night I will have Parker draw and give away 2 copies of the CD...These would make great gifts to give away early in the season or for your on holiday collection.

Just some thoughts from Jeoff....
When my other friends were listening to Elvis or The Beatles, I was forced then but I realize now-blest, to have to listen to such artists as Frank Sinatra,Tony Bennett, John Raitt, Gordan McRae to name a few. You see my late Father was a singer of the standards. Dad missed hitting the rockn'roll seen by a few years and because of that he didn't like any of it and wouldn't allow it in our home. He was a crooner and in my opinion the best I've ever heard. Dad was on his way out and I'm convinced he knew it.
But in 1949 before television existed, Dad crooned his way to winning the Original Ted Mack Amateur Hour heard live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City that was broadcast nationwide over the radio-the TV of that day. The Ted Mack Hour was...the first American Idol. Because of the financial pressures of taking care of a family of four, Dad decided not to make the move to NYC to start his singing career on the radio after winning. Instead, he opted to stay in rural northern Indiana where my 4 sisters and I were raised. I remember Dad standing in front of the mirror in our one and only bathroom in our pastel green aluminum sided 3 bedroom ranch, belting out "WHEN I FALL IN LOVE" as well as other amazing songs, pretending he was on stage. We'd all yell, "Dad stop!" And he would look at us with those regretful eyes and would reluctantly give in. He spent his life wondering-what if. Oh how I wish I could hear him now. I'd tell him, "Belt it out Popps!" Dad had a word for rock'n roll "cacophony"...which is a little too tense for me. Yes...I'm forever a huge Beatles fan! Little did I know that thru his distaste for this new genre of artistic expression, which led to my limited access to it, would come my chance to hear history's greatest singer/crooners and to memorize such pieces of music as OKLAHOMA and THE SOUND OF MUSIC to name a few. Those were the only kinds of recordings we owned as a family. But from my isolated musical life came my love for great melodies that lives to this day. On my new CD project "O STAR OF CHRISTMAS" I discovered anew the voice of my Dad in me and my love for great songs and a music style that I can wear. Instead of having someone write the typical artist bio I felt like I needed to tell my story because many are taking on the standards with great sounding commercial success these days, but very few have sat in front of 33 1/3 phonograph like I have as a kid and crooned out those great songs at the top of their lungs. On my new CD you'll be listening to my roots. It's been rare in my recording career that spans 30 plus years now, that I've ever recorded a record, that after I was done, I didn't want to change something. Not so on "O STAR OF CHRISTMAS". I really love this CD almost as much as I love Christmas! I so hope you enjoy and turn it up loud...Merry Christmas!! Jeoffrey Benward

I have not forgotten about the winners from last week.....The Winners of the Holiday Goodies this past week are

Sondra at Happy Clean Living and
Rambling Gal

Both of these gals will have holiday goodies coming their way! Please visit their blogs!