Despite the assault on the ears of everyone who ventures out shopping after Halloween , by generic, cheesy, seasonal tunes, I love Christmas music.  There are a number of reasons, but the most persuasive is that it is the music that I, like most Americans, am most familiar with. 

I was given a gift that I can take no credit for.  From the time of my earliest memory I sang and people enjoyed listening.  In my early teens my voice went from Soprano to Tenor and I was welcomed into school and church choirs.  So, every Christmas season for most of my life I practiced everything from the Little Drummer Boy to The Messiah.  Singing in a large chorus where my voice blended with hundreds of others has been one of the most pleasurable experiences of my life.   

My wife and I have similar tastes in music. Over the years we bought Christmas albums.  A lot of those are on vinyl and never get played, but some of the more recent are on CD and get pulled out for the season.  The collection is very eclectic.  There is a recording of the Vienna Boy’s Choir singing in German.  Another oddity – for me – is Mariah Carey singing Christmas carols. 

Since at least 1/3 of our music collection is jazz it isn’t surprising that jazzy Christmas selections are well represented.  The Charlie Brown Christmas song is one of my favorites.

I like Pearl Bailey’s “Five Pound Box of Money.” 

How about Louis Armstrong’s “When it’s Christmas Time in New Orleans.”

Of course, Handel's Messiah, particularly the Halleluiah Chorus is near the top of my favorites list.

There is no country Christmas music.  It isn’t that I don’t like country music, it’s just that I haven’t liked any that was recorded after about 1960.