By M&C News Oct 26, 2007, 15:31 GMT
Concord Records has released ‘A Swingin’ Christmas,’ an album of yuletide hits sung by multi-platinum Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Michael Bolton with the bang of a big band orchestra behind him.
One of the most accomplished and celebrated artists in the history of music, Michael Bolton has sold more than 53 million records, performed for packed arenas worldwide, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has been honored by his peers with two Grammy Awards for Best Male Vocalist and six American Music Awards.
Originally released last year (exclusively at Target), this beautiful and inspirational holiday collection adds two brand-new tracks: “Silent Night” and “Joy To The World.”
‘A Swingin’ Christmas’ sees Bolton bringing new life to a host of holiday chestnuts, including “Walkin’ In A Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow” and “White Christmas,” making it a must-have for the holiday season. The full track listing for A Swingin’ Christmas is as follows: “Walkin’ In A Winter Wonderland,” “The Christmas Song,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “White Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Silent Night” and “Joy To The World.”
While known primarily as a performer – recognized for such R&B covers as “Dock of the Bay” (Otis Redding’s widow, Zelma, told Bolton that hearing him sing “Dock of the Bay” on Showtime at the Apollo brought her to tears; she wrote Bolton a letter proclaiming his rendition “my favorite version of my husband’s classic”) and “When a Man Loves a Woman”( Percy Sledge, who originally recorded “When a Man Loves a Woman,” declared, “I think Michael Bolton is one of the greatest singers I've ever heard. For him to do my song, it was really an honor”).
Bolton is also known for singing and recording with, among many others, Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, and has sung and played guitar with B.B. King. In addition to taking the stage with him several times, Bolton was especially honored to be chosen to sing “Georgia On My Mind” to Ray Charles as Ray was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame.
Bolton is one of a few writers and artists to have written with the great Bob Dylan and had his music recorded by hip-hop superstar Kanye West (featuring megastar Jay-Z) and also by John Legend. Bolton is, arguably, one of the most successful and diversely prolific songwriters of his time. Acknowledgement for his vast body of work has come in many forms. Perhaps the most recognizable are the mega hits he has composed for icons Barbra Streisand, KISS, AND Cher.
Over 100 additional tunes penned by Bolton have been recorded by artists such as Greg Allman, Joe Cocker, Marc Anthony, Wynonna Judd, Kenny G. and Peabo Bryson among dozens more from rock to R&B to country artists.
Bolton is among an elite group of songwriters whose numerous writings translate to hit after hit and awards for the most played songs on radio. Bolton’s legendary talent has earned him the BMI 1 Million Broadcast Award (a million performance is awarded when a song has been broadcast for at least 50,000 hours of air-time, this equals more than 5.7 years of continuous playing) for songs such as “Soul Provider,” “Missing You Now” and “Steel Bars,” among others.
He’s also been given the BMI 2 Million Broadcast Award (awarded to songs played more than 2 million times) for “Love Is A Wonderful Thing” and “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?” as well as BMI Citations For Most Broadcast Performances for songs such as “By The Time The Night Is Over” and “Ain’t Got Nothing If You Ain’t Got Love.”
The superstar vocalist also received the ASCAP Awards Pop Award Publisher Honors for “That’s What Love Is All About,” “If I Found Someone” and “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?”
Fifteen years ago he established a foundation on behalf of children and women at risk (MichaelBoltonCharities.com), and continues to work with DC lawmakers to keep the Violence Against Women Act authorized and fully funded and to develop innovative initiatives to fight domestic violence. As in all of his endeavors, Michael Bolton combines heart, soul and a profusion of energy to make a positive difference in the lives of others. For Michael, it is, simply, “the right thing to do”.
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