The Little Drummer Boy

I seem to be in a season that entails not exposition, but quiescence. So, with this post, I continue the musical thread.

I have been blessed throughout my life to have been exposed to a wide variety of music styles and musical artists, and depending on my mood, I enjoy most of them. A few I have had the fortune to see perform live on stage. One such opportunity came when I was a teenager in North Dakota. My mother took me into Grand Forks to see a performance by Roger Whittaker. I don't remember a great deal about the concert itself, although I do seem to recall that he used the platform to speak out against the poaching of the African elephant in Kenya. But I digress.

I have always been somewhat envious of those few baritones who have that full, rich sound that can both command the moment and soothe the listening ear. Whittaker and Bing Crosby readily come to mind. Indeed, Crosby has a famous rendition of the following holiday classic, but in honor of my mother who first exposed me to Roger Whittaker, here is The Little Drummer Boy.


Postscript: While distinctly non Christmas, The Last Farewell is always worth a listen.