Christmas Merry & Bright: Play Backstories
iHeart Podcast Network
Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstories of some of the most beloved songs of Christmas. Arroyo will also be featuring interviews with Grammy winners Jose Feliciano and Amy Grant for special insights into their massive Christmas hits.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Music Podcasts
Networks:
iHeart Podcast Network
Description:
Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstories of some of the most beloved songs of Christmas. Arroyo will also be featuring interviews with Grammy winners Jose Feliciano and Amy Grant for special insights into their massive Christmas hits.
Language:
English
Episodes
"The Christmas Song" We Know and Love
12/22/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole and how it became to first hit Christmas song by an African American.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:02:12
We Almost Missed "Santa Clause Coming To Town"
12/21/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" and how it was originally written from a place of tragedy.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:01:58
Why "We Wish You A Merry Little Christmas"
12/20/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." The original meanings of these songs were... not so "merry."
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Duration:00:03:11
Not So "White Christmas"
12/19/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "White Christmas" by Jewish Russian artist, Irving Berlin and why it has such a palpable feel of melancholy.
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Duration:00:03:19
"Joy To The World" Was Not Intended For Christmas
12/18/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Joy To The World" and how it is the only Christmas carol that is not a Christmas song.
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Duration:00:01:42
How "Christmas Memories" Became Frank Sinatra's
12/15/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Christmas Memories" by Frank Sinatra. This song would not have been possible without the help of composer, Don Costa, and Lyricists, Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
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Duration:00:02:30
"The First Noel" of Christmas
12/14/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "The First Noel" and how it became the first contemporary American Christmas carol to gain worldwide acclaim.
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Duration:00:02:37
"Hark! The Herald Angel 'Stings'"
12/13/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" by Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn and how it originally was not meant to be tied to Christianity.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:02:42
How We Got "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)"
12/12/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" and speaks with the artist, Amy Grant, herself.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:06:28
"Christmas Time Is Here" Charlie Brown
12/11/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson and how they had to fight to bring us this wonderful tune.
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Duration:00:02:20
"I Heard The Bells" After My Greatest Loss
12/8/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "I Heard The Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and how it was birthed from his greatest loss.
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Duration:00:01:38
We Almost Didn't "Tell It On The Mountain"
12/7/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of how "Go Tell It On The Mountain" was preserved by John Wesley Work, Jr. at the HBCU Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Duration:00:00:56
Feliz Navidad From Puerto Rico
12/6/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Faliz Navidad" and speaks with the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, José Feliciano, himself.
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Duration:00:05:25
"Jingle Bells" Isn't About "Bells"
12/5/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Jingle Bells." Written by James Lord Pierpont in a tavern in 1857.
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Duration:00:03:39
How "Deck The Halls" Became A Christmas Song
12/4/2023
On this episode of Christmas Merry and Bright, Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstory of "Deck The Halls", it's 16th century Welsh origins and how it actually had nothing to do with Christmas.
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Duration:00:04:51
Introducing Christmas Merry & Bright with Raymond Arroyo
11/27/2023
Raymond Arroyo, an award-winning broadcaster, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed vocalist, unveils the hidden backstories of some of the most beloved songs of Christmas. Arroyo will also be featuring interviews with Grammy winners Jose Feliciano and Amy Grant for special insights into their massive Christmas hits.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:00:23