23 Days Until Christmas and I Am Jolly — Thank You Burl Ives

Nothing puts me in the holiday mood like the quintessential Christmas classic from Burl Ives. He shuffled off this mortal coil nearly 20 years ago, but the song "A Holly Jolly Christmas" will live on forever. One of many great songs you're hearing on KDAT through the 25th. From classic to contemporary, we give you the soundtrack of the season.

In addition to acting and writing, Mr. Ives made his mark singing "A Holly Jolly Christmas"
after it was first featured in the 1964 CBS-TV presentation of the animated family special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives voiced Sam the Snowman, the banjo-playing "host" and narrator of the story. The rest is history.

In addition to the sense of hearing all of those great holiday tunes, the other 4 senses surround us in splendor this time of year.

Sight. The joy in the eyes of my children on Christmas morning.

Smell. Emanating from the tree, the oven...of course the snow blower!

Taste. I'm partial to pretzels with the white bark, but let's be honest. ALL of the sugary goodness tastes wonderful this time of year.

Touch. Holding all of those great ornaments from across the decades as you put up the tree.

Reach out to me with your favorites in the comment section below or directly: gregg@kdat.com