12-25-25 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! IT'S FINALLY HERE - IT'S MY FERVENT HOPE THAT ALL NOMADS HAVE ENJOYED THE TUNES FOR THE COUNTDOWN - ENJOY TODAYS PICKS - NO. 1 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

Today - The Biggest Day of the Year. All Nomads will celebrate with family, friends, little kids, big kids & others that just drop in. We'll enjoy the beauty of the tree, the decorations and the FOOD! You just gotta' know - Santa is very tired! And the reason for the season? THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST!

First up - The supremely gifted Italian classical tenor - Andre Bocelli and a group of talented kids perform - SANTA CLAUS IS COMMING TO TOWN!

From America's Pastor - the one and only BILLY GRAHAM -

“Over 2,000 years ago, on a night the world has come to call Christmas, a young Jewish maiden went through the experience countless mothers had before her and would since: She brought forth a child. But this was no ordinary child. This was the unique Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins (Matthew 2:11).”

From the great Paul Harvey - The Rest of the Story

Here is a story about the essence of the beauty of the birth of Christ from the greatest radio personality of all time. He talked on the radio from 1951 to 2008 - Winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - PAUL HARVEY gives us A CHRISTMAS STORY -  THE MAN & THE BIRDS!

And here on the perfect day of Christmas - The Piano Guys, Peter Hollens, David Archuleta, and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir get together to sing GLORIA - ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH.

On this happy happy day - MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE!

DLStafford

thenomadARCHITECT

My warm and all-embracing 

Christmas wish for everyone - 

the high and low, rich and poor

admired and despised, loved

and hated, civilized and savage

- may one day be united in a

Heaven of eternal rest, peace,

and joy...except for the inventor

of the telephone - Letter to the

Editor, New York Evening World

23 December 1890 - MARK TWAIN

12-24-25 IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!!! HOPE ALL NOMADS ARE PREPARED - EXCITED ABOUT TOMORROW & READY FOR THE FUN & THE NOISE WITH THE KIDS & GRAND KIDS! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

 

It's the day before the Big Day. All Nomads I know are excited and looking forward to the joys of Christmas morning - watching little kids and big kids unwrap their gifts, finding Santa's gifts and climbing into the big cardboard box that the train set came in. LOL! But today is also a day of celebration for the coming of the baby that would, one day, change the world for all humanity. I hope all Nomads are ready - Merry Christmas to all!

First up - just to get all you NOMADS in the mood, here is the multi-award-winning modern Sinatra, MICHAEL BUBLE, with the super talented current day Andrews Sisters, THE PUPIPNNI SISTERS, delivering a great version of JINGLE BELLS!

From the top acappella country music group is the unique sounding HOME FREE performing a classic - OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL.

O HOLY NIGHT

"O Holy Night" (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song about the night of the birth of Jesus Christ, described in the first verse as "the dear Saviour", and frequently performed as a Christmas carol. Based on the French-language poem Minuit, chrétiens, written in 1847 by poet Placide Cappeau, it was set to music by composer Adolphe Adam. The English version, with small changes to the initial melody, is by John Sullivan Dwight. - Summary from Wikipedia.

This powerful, profound work of music has been recorded by 1,130 artists. This version is, by far, the greatest rendition of this powerful work. DAVID PHELPS, with a collection of great singers affiliated with Gaither Music Homecoming supporting Phelps as he delivers this amazing musical poem.

I hope all you Nomads have a nice restful Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!

DLStafford

thenomadARCHITECT

The worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other. - Johnny Carson

12 - 23 -25 IT'S NOTHIN' BUT GIRLS TODAY - THEY WILL SHOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GRAB THAT MIKE AND LET IT GO - NO. 3 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

Here is a thought that helps us understand the love, the power and the essence of beautiful music when we hear the melodious wanderings of any female singer:

You can knock me down, but you better have a big rock to put me there... It's been tough, but that's alright. I am the oldest of ten kids and I am a survivor. I love this business so much, that there's no way I could think of retiring. When I'm 87, I'll still be walking on the Grand Ole Opry and singing "Here comes more tears to cry...". I still don't feel that I have the biggest record yet, or sang it the best. I think the best is yet to come, and that's the truth!

Dottie West

I have an amazing memory of hearing the Queen of Rock Tina Turner perform Proud Mary along with two hours of great tunes as the lead for The Ike & Tina Turner Review at Doak Campbel Stadium at Florida State University October 1971.

Digging deep into the video shelves of You Tube I found a powerful rendition of one of the greatest Gospel songs ever written - TINA TURNER performing AMAZING GRACE!

The only thing better than one female power singer is two female power singers doing a powerful Christmas song - Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande give us a power version of a great song - Santa Can't You Hear Me?

In 1990, Mariah Carey set the world of modern pop music on fire with her eponymous debut album Mariah Carey. She achieved five number one hits on Billboard Hot 100. The multi - award winning power singer is a top selling artist every Christmas as well. Here is a great tune with a great video - MARIAH CAREY - THE STAR

Power to the girls - Turn up the sound for Christmas - Merry Merry to All Nomads.

DLStafford

thenomadARCHITECT

12 - 22 - 25 - CHRISTMAS TIME TENDS TO BE STRESSFUL & EXPENSIVE - BUT IT'S ALSO FULL OF HUMOROUS THINGS TO SEE & HEAR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND/OR GRAND KIDS - NO. 4 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

It's Monday! Has anyone ever "liked" Monday. When you were young you needed more sleep due to all that partying you did over the weekend. Then, you gotta go to work. If you are old like me, you wish you could just go someplace where its warm. But you can't do that at Christmas! Let's face it - Mondays, no matter your age, can indeed suck!

But have no fear - Your Nomad Architect has some entries that will improve your attitude and make you smile knowing that Christmas is only three days away. I just hope you have everything wrapped, all the decorations up and nothing else left to do except clean up after the kids & grandkids.

Here is a great piece by a renown comedian trying to move Christmas - JIM GAFFIGAN - CAN WE PLEASE DO CHRISTMAS WHEN IT'S WARMER?

From today's funniest female comic - LEANE MORGAN ON CHRISTMAS

From one of the funniest comics to ever stand on a stage - December 1991 JONATHAN WINTERS loves Christmas parties on The Johny Carson Show.

DLStafford
thenomadARCHITECT

12 - 21 - 25 IT'S THE LAST SUNDAY BEFORE THE BIG DAY - LET'S CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN A BIG SOUTHERN GOSPEL WAY - NO. 5 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

I grew up listening to and enjoying concerts wherever my dad took me, my mom and my brother to see & hear great Southern Gospel Music. The Statesmen, The Blackwood Brothers, Wendy Bagwell & The Sunlighters - the list is long, diverse and Southern to the core. I shook hands with the great Hovie Lister, piano player for the Statesmen when I was about twelve. Back then - The Statesmen were the stars of the Southern Gospel Music world.

Of course, things change. Southern Gospel was displaced by "new" music. It was still around but the crowds shrank for live shows that would bring in thousands for Gospel Sings and other events. Then, Bill & Gloria Gaither, two master songwriters, started what is now called The Gaither Homecoming events which featured many of the old groups and a plethora of new, including the Gaither Vocal Band, winner of over 5O Dove & Grammy awards.

First up today - from the early fifties is a vintage Christmas tune - The Statesmen Quartet performs Listen to The Bells.

Have a listen - a cool Christmas tune and a nice video - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound do a nice arrangement of CHRISTMAS IN MANHATTAN! 

Enjoy the current iteration of the one and only GAITHER VOCAL BAND performing  FEAR NOT!

DLStafford

thenomadARCHITECT

12 -20 -25 IT'S SATURDAY - TODAY IS THE DAY TO HEAR SOME "AMERICAN" MUSIC - BLUEGRASS GALORE - NO. 6 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

BLUEGRASS MUSIC came to be in the Appalachian Region of America in the 1940's. It has since become one of the most favored genres of music in the world. Combining acoustic instruments and great singing it usually tells stories of the simplicity, beauty and hardship of life. Today, all Nomads will hear some cool Christmas tunes from some of the greats in this truly American music.

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First for today - The great Earl Scruggs and The Bluegrass Allstars including sons Randy & Gary, Sam Bush, Ricky Scaggs and Phil Leadbetter - an instrumental arrangement of JINGLE BELLS.

From one of the truly gifted singers & fiddle players with a voice as pure and fresh as cool mountain water - Allison Kraus & Union Station give us SILVER BELLS.

And from one of the truly talented band of singers and players - The U.S Army Band performs live at the 2015 American Holiday Festival - BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS MEDLEY!

When in doubt - All Nomads gotta sing! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

DLStafford

thenomadARCHITECT

12 - 19 - 25 IT'S THE LAST FRIDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS - I HOPE ALL NOMADS WILL ENJOY SOME VERY COOL TUNES FROM SOME GREAT SINGERS - NO. 7 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

Friday nights have changed over the years. Now, it's just the day before Saturday! Like most people my age, I have memories of doing really dumb things on Friday when I didn't really understand life and all of its dynamics. But one thing that started as a kid was my love for music of all kinds. I still love all music genres & I have seen hundreds of artists over the years.

Today's selection of tunes is fairly diverse. From bluegrass to rock to banjo pickin' for Christmas, I hope all Vagabonds and Nomads will get the feel of today's tunes.

First up - A great singer and an insanely great guitarist - Keith Urban, who has won more awards than I care to count, gives the listener a great tune - I'll Be Your Santa Tonight!

Two great artists from completely different worlds of music combine to deliver a great tune. A member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and winner of 27 Grammies - Allison Krauss joins one of the greatest rock singers in history, also a multiple award winner, the one and only Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin, gives us a very cool tune from the movie The Coopers - The Light of Christmas Day.

And to watch some amazingly talented pickers from The United States Navy Band perform their song of choice - Dueling Jingle Bells!

Jingle All the Way! Merry Christmas to All Nomads & Vagabonds

     DLStafford

     thenomadARCHITECT