Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

Songcraft's 12 Days of Christmas continues with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. Today we hear from Walter Afanasieff, co-writer and co-producer (with Mariah Carey) of the modern-day holiday standard "All I Want for Christmas is You." Released in 1994, the song hit #1 on the Billboard pop chart for the first time in 2019. And it's back at #1 again this month! This bonus episode is a teaser of our full-length career-spanning interview with Walter that launches later today. Hear them both for the FULL experience.

It's the 8th day of our 12 Days of Christmas mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. Today we catch up with Chris Butler, writer of "Christmas Wrapping" by his group The Waitresses. Best known for their hit "I Know What Boys Like," Chris was the mastermind behind the group. He tell us all about his modern day holiday standard, including finishing the lyrics in the cab on the way to the studio!

We're counting down the 12 Days of Christmas with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this seventh day of Christmas, we explore "Mary Did You Know?" with co-writer Mark Lowry. The gospel music legend tells us all about the holiday standard that's since been covered by Pentatonix, Natalie Cole, CeeLo Green, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, and many others.

Our 12 Days of Christmas countdown continues with today's mini-episode, a conversation with the charming Randy Brooks. The writer of the equally loved and maligned "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" shares the wild story of the song's unexpected success, including an inspirational spark from Merle Haggard and some early encouragement from Dolly Parton.

We're counting down the 12 Days of Christmas with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this fifth day of Christmas, we explore "That Spirit of Christmas" with co-writer Mable John. The first female artist signed to Motown, the sister of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Little Willie John, and a long-time Ray Charles associate, Mable tells us all about the creation of the song that's probably best known as from the attic scene of the hit holiday film Christmas Vacation.

We're counting down the 12 Days of Christmas with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this fourth day of Christmas, we explore "Feliz Navidad" with writer and original performer Jose Feliciano. The Latin Songwriters Hall of Famer and 7-time Grammy winner tells us all about the creation of his holiday hit that's since been covered by Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Kacey Musgraves, and Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood.

We're counting down the 12 Days of Christmas with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this third day of Christmas, we explore "Santa Baby" with co-writer Phil Springer. The former Brill Building writer (who was 91 at the time of our interview) tells us all about the creation of the holiday hit that's since been covered by Madonna, Michael Buble, Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, Ariana Grande, Trisha Yearwood, Gwen Stefani, and many more!

We're counting down the 12 Days of Christmas with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this second day of Christmas, we explore Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas" with co-writer Bryan Wells. The former Motown staff writer, who also co-wrote Stevie's Top 10 hits "A Place in the Sun" and "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday," tells us all about the writing of the holiday hit that's since been covered by The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Jack Johnson, Justin Bieber, and others.

We're counting down the 12 Days of Christmas with daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this first day of Christmas, we explore Elvis Presley's "Santa Claus is Back in Town" with Songwriters Hall of Famer, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, and one of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, Mike Stoller.

Part One:Scott and Paul chat about recording a special song as a gift for your loved one, shout-out our most recent Patreon supporters, make wild speculations about Bob Dylan, and discuss why spite motivated Scott to get a second Grammy nomination.  Part Two:Our in-depth interview with Erika EnderAbout Erika Ender:Though best known as the co-writer of the international hit “Despacito,” Panamanian-born Erika Ender is an accomplished songwriter and singer who has written or co-written more than 40 chart topping singles. Working in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, Erika’s songs have been recorded by artists such as Justin Bieber, Akon, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Mark Anthony, Chayanne, Gloria Trevi, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Prince Royce, and Jenny Rivera. She’s one of only two women to write a Spanish language song that’s climbed to the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100; she’s the only Hispanic woman to be nominated for a Song of the Year Grammy; and she was the youngest person ever inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. The two-time Latin Grammy winner was named by People en Espanol magazine as one of its 25 Most Powerful Women and she has carved out an impressive artist career of her own with successful singles such as “Abreme La Puerta,” “Luna Nueva,” “Cheque Al Portador,” “Quien Sale No Entra,” Sigo Caminando,” “Darnos un Dia” and “Te Conozco de Antes.”