Christmas Lights and Tributes #MusicMovesMe

It's December, and at Music Moves Me, Christmas music rules.  But I also wanted to pay tribute to some recently departed singers, so a little creativity was called for.

My first song is a tribute to actor Jim Nabors, who died earlier this week.  He was known by many for playing the character Gomer Pyle, first as a gas station attendent on the TV series The Andy Griffith Show and later, as a Marine in the 60's television series Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.  But what some don't know is that he started out as a comedian, but was also an accomplished musician.  Here, as an honorary Marine Corporal, he proudly sings Silent Night accompanied by the  U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band at the 2nd Annual Na Mele o na Keiki (Music for the Children) Holiday Concert in 2009.

Nabors was 87.

Second, a tribute to AC/DC cofounder and guitarist Malcolm Young, who died in November at the age of 64 from dementia.  I couldn't find Christmas themed AC/DC music, so I turned to You Tube and its stock of videos of holiday home displays to music. Here, this house's lights pulse to the tune of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck".

And seeing the decorations immediately made me think of still another group - Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Founded by Paul O'Neill in 1993, TSO has gone on to sell almost 10 million albums, many of them Christmas themed.

But, in April, at the age of 61, Paul O'Neill passed away from a prescription drug overdose in Tampa, Florida.  He had reportedly suffered from a number of health ailments.

Then, in July, their bassist, David Zablidowsky, died in a freak accident.  The RV he had been riding in had a flat tire and pulled off the highway.  It was then struck by a tractor-trailer.

TSO is still touring, as they do every November-December, still criss crossing the country (literally) and bringing joy to their millions of fans.

This first video features TSO's instrumental hit Wizards in Winter, which has become a favorite song for house decorators to use in their computer-driven light animations.  This comes from the album The Lost Christmas Eve.

The second song, What Child is This, from the same album, has, over the years, become my favorite Trans Siberian song.  Enjoy the vocals of Robert Evan.

Finally, the song that was my introduction to this band:  Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (a blend of a couple of Christmas carols).

Join blogger Xmas Dolly on this Musical trip with her other Conductors:   Callie of JAmerican Spice, and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥  & Rockin’ conductor Cathy from Curious as a Cathy !

Next Monday - a Christmas music post that has become a tradition on my blog.  I'll be sharing it with my 4M friends next Monday.  Stay tuned!