Christmas and the holidays have inspired a veritable cornucopia of music over the years, and this year two local artists have added to the mix.
Actually, one song is brand new and the other is 65 years old.
Ryder Pierce felt inspired to create "Merry Christmas Chattanooga, Tennessee," by riding around town and putting all of the positive holiday spirit he saw into verse. He recorded it several weeks ago because he said he felt like Chattanooga needed its own holiday song.
"Tennessee Santa Claus" took a little longer to get put into finished form. It was written in 1954 by Chattanooga native Mac Pendley while he was a high school student in Miami. He was inspired to write the song by his radio speech teacher who had asked for volunteers to play Santa in a production of "A Miracle on 34th Street."
'Tennessee Santa Claus'
You all know Santa Claus from the North PoleWell I’ve got a Santa that’s not so coldIf you want to meet someone real sweetMeet my Tennessee Santa ClausHe doesn’t have a beard or wear a red suitHe doesn’t even have a sleighHe wears cowboy boots and some worn out jeansAnd his truck is painted primer greyHe’s a Christmas dream and when he kisses meOur love lights up the townHe’s a country boyThe one I adoreHe brings me lots of lovin and it’s all year roundSo when Christmas time rolls around at lastWhat do you think will make my heart beat fastIt’s mistletoe that’s where I’ll goWith my Tennessee Santa Claus
Pendley raised his hand and announced in his Tennessee drawl that he wanted to audition.
"You want to be a Tennessee Santa Claus," the teacher quipped.
Pendley didn't get the part, but the teacher recommended he write a song based on the phrase. He tried over the years to have someone record it to no avail, but at the urging of his second wife, Betty, he gave it one more shot. He approached local singer/songwriter Summer Shyvonne after one of her shows last November, and asked if she ever recorded other people's songs.
Ryder Pierce wrote and recorded "Merry Christmas Chattanooga, Tennessee." / Contributed Photo by Darian LindsayShe said it was rare that she would, but was immediately taken by the title and asked him to sing it for her. In true Hallmark movie fashion, she liked it and coincidentally had scheduled a recording session the following week for an album she was working on, so the song was added to the to-do list.
Several members of Travis Tritt's club band appear on the studio version, and you can hear it on most streaming music services. You can also hear Shyvonne do an acoustic version at facebook.com/timesfreepress.com. Since its release, Shyvonne and manager/producer Craig Driver have been in discussions with film writers and producers about creating a movie based on the song.
"I just love the sweetness of it," she said.
Pierce is a fan of Christmas music and wondered why there wasn't a holiday song about Chattanooga, so he wrote one himself. Listen to it here.
'Merry Christmas Chattanooga, Tennessee'
A perfect kind of nightIs being surrounded by Christmas lightsStrolling through Enchanted GardensWith the city skyline in sightThere’s nothing like a child’s faceAnticipating that special dayPressed up against the glassFogging up Christmas window displaysOver the bridge we goSnowflake lights welcome dreams of snowParades through town bring sounds of jubileeEverybody sing,Merry Christmas Chattanooga, TennesseeI see the Choo Choo decoratedI see lovers cold and skatingFamilies and Christmas treesI see carolers serenadingBut my favorite thing to seeIs somebody helping a soul in needHelping hands are in low demandEverybody wants to do the deedOver the bridge we goSnowflake lights welcome dreams of snowParades through town bring sounds of jubileeEverybody sing,Merry Christmas Chattanooga, TennesseeThe season’s finally hereThere’s nowhere else I’d rather beDuring the best time of yearIt could be green or whiteThe only thing I know for certain isIt’s gonna feel rightOver the bridge we goSnowflake lights welcome dreams of snowParades through town bring sounds of jubileeEverybody sing,Merry Christmas Chattanooga, TennesseeEverybody sing,Merry Christmas Chattanooga, Tennessee
"I try to capture the scenery and the aesthetic of the holiday times in Chattanooga," he said. "You go across the bridge and see the snowflake lights."
He also references the EPB window displays downtown and the lights in the Glenn Miller Garden at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
"Chattanoogans who listen to it will know exactly what I'm talking about."
He said he also included a deeper message in the song by referencing how people are a little nicer to each other around this time of year.
"The world would be a little better place if everyone acted like they did around Christmas time year round."
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.
Contributed photo from Craig Driver / "Tennessee Santa Claus" is a song by Mac Pendley and recorded by Summer Shyvonne, and is available online