Of all Christmas traditions, one of the most satisfying is the music of the season.
Regardless of religious preference, nearly everyone gets caught up each year with the wonderful songs of Christmas.
For my wife, Juanita, and myself, music is an integral part of our lives all year, but certainly the holiday season is especially notable.
In 1945 my family moved to Kansas City and Perry Como was hitting the top of the charts with his recording of “Till the End of Time.”
My sister started collecting Como records. I started playing them. I was hooked. As a teen-ager with aspirations of becoming a world-famous crooner, I quickly adopted the Como style.
My ambitions got sidetracked, but his didn’t. Through the years, I’ve remained a loyal fan of Como. Only a few weeks ago, I told Juanita one of my frustrated wishes was to be in the audience when Mr. C performed.
This year, we were privileged to have participated in a special musical event. The dream came true. Last Thursday night, we joined 7,000 other adoring fans in the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach for the Perry Como Holiday Show.
We weren’t disappointed. While the first half of the show featured other acts, Perry came on stage for the second half and gave a full one-hour concert.
Yes, there were a few young people in the audience but there could be little doubt the average age of those attending was probably near 60. They would shout from the floor, “We love you, Perry.”
When he sang old favorites such as “Temptation,” “No Other Love,” and “Hello Young Lovers,” the waves of nostalgia kept goose bumps running amok. When he turned to the traditional holiday tunes, including some sing-along, the atmosphere warmed even more. He ended the concert, of course, with his unforgettable version of “Ave Maria.”
The singer explained why he no longer provides a holiday special on television, something he did for about 35 years. He said the networks would only offer him a time slot at 10 p.m. on a Saturday about three weeks before Christmas and he felt this wasn’t appropriate. He’s right.
Como was accompanied by a full orchestra and an eight-member vocal group. The 79-year-old voice has lost none of its clarity and charm. The old boy still knows how to put a song over.
This old boy still does a little crooning, too, and Como still is my hero. To finally see him up close and personal was a holiday treat I’ll always remember.
Juanita and I have been involved in other musical programs this season, but we’ll never forget that night in the Ocean Center. To many of us, Como is a national treasure.
There would be some younger citizens who might have a different view, however. Before the concert, we were eating dinner in our hotel when we informed our waiter of our plans for the evening.
The young man, a college sophomore, replied, “Perry Como. Who’s that?”
We still love you, Perry.
Phil Atkisson is a free-lance writer in Lake County who writes the Autumn Days column for The Lake Sentinel. His column is published Wednesdays.
