Press Release
MOTOWN GOSPEL RELEASES “MOTOWN CHRISTMAS”
The First Holiday Album from the Motown Brand in over 40 years.
man-diva influenced primarily by church women, black blues singers, drag queens, hippies and homos,” said liner notes writer Joshua Gamson“Like very few before him, and quite a few after, Sylvester rode his marginality right into the mainstream.”
Motown Christmas, a collaborative release from Motown Gospel and Motown Records, is a stunning holiday album featuring soulful, inspired interpretations of seasonal classics and a must-have addition to any music collection and will help spread the joy of the season.
Produced by Aaron Lindsey, Grammy Award winner and Motown Gospel Vice President of A&R, Motown Christmas features mesmerizing duets and flawless solos from an impressive lineup of Grammy Award winning singers and dynamic signature voices including KEM & Janice Gaines (“Bethlehem”); Ne-Yo & Tasha Cobbs (“The Christmas Song” ); Tasha Cobbs (“O Come All Ye Faithful”); Smokie Norful (“O Holy Night”); Gregory Porter & Anita Wilson (“Go Tell It On The Mountain/Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”); and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and Kevin Ross (“It’s Christmas Time”). Under the direction of Lindsey, who recorded with live musicians to exceptional sonic effect, the songs boast the soulful, feel-good signature Motown sound with a little heart pulling praise and worship added to the mix. “I’m hoping this album draws people together while reminding us of the reason that we celebrate Christmas, which is because we have a savior,” says Lindsey. “We all love getting gifts, this music is even a gift, but the real gift is from heaven.”
Ne-Yo and Tasha Cobbs, marquee artists for Motown and Motown Gospel respectively, certainly gift listeners with heavenly harmonies on a spare yet powerful rendering of the holiday classic The Christmas Song. Anita Wilson’s R&B- and jazz-infused gospel vocals are the perfect complement to Gregory Porter’s warm, earthy tones as the pair delivers an intriguing mash-up of the well-known spiritual Go Tell It On The Mountain with the timeless Motown hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. And the silky smooth vocals of newcomer Kevin Ross add a fresh dose of R&B swagger to the classic crooning of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles on It’s Christmas Time.
With a nod to the historic, soulful, feel-good musical legacy of Motown Records, and a full embrace of the uplifting worship of Gospel music that points to the “reason for the season,” Motown Christmas raises the bar for holiday albums to come.
MOTOWN CHRISTMAS TRACK LISTING
- It’s Christmas Time – Smokey Robinson & Kevin Ross
- This Christmas – Brian Courtney Wilson & Gene Moore
- Go Tell it On the Mountain – Gregory Porter & Anita Wilson
- Angels We Have Heard on High – Chrisette Michele & Kierra Sheard
- Little Drummer Boy – Tye Tribbett
- The Christmas Song -Neyo & Tasha Cobbs
- Christmas Overture – Carol of The Bells / My Favorite Things
- Joy To The World = Micah Stampley & Sheri Jones-Moffett
- Bethlehem -KEM & Janice Gaines
- O Come All Ye Faithful – Tasha Cobbs
- Silent Night – VaShawn Mitchell
- Mary Did You Know -India.Arie & Gene Moore
- Mary’s Revelation Interlude -The Aaron Lindsey Orchestra
- O Holy Night -Smokie Norful
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas -Babyface & Toni Braxton
- Silent Night (Bonus Track) – The Temptations
Recap
One of the most anticipated holiday albums of the year, MOTOWN CHRISTMAS is shaping to be an epic release. Full with unique collaborations, artists from Capitol Records, Motown Gospel, and Motown Records join forces on classic holiday tunes such as ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Silent Night’ and more. Produced by multiple award-winning producer Aaron Lindsey, MOTOWN CHRISTMAS features performances by India.Arie, Ne-Yo, Gregory Porter, Tasha Cobbs, Smokie Norful, Tye Tribbett and others. It is the first collection of new Christmas recordings from Motown in 46 years. This is sure to be a memorable album that will endure the test of time and have something for everyone.
DSE Live was selected to produce an exclusive Washington, DC Motown Merry Christmas Experience sponsored by Motown Records and Universal Music Group. The sold-out event was presented at the Tap & Parlour on December 17th at 8 PM. Attendees wore their most festive holiday sweaters for a chance to win #MotownChristmas gift bags filled with new music, autographed memorabilia and more!
