Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

Merry Christmas! What better way to wrap up our 12 Days of Christmas mini-episodes than with “Christmas Time is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas? Today we share an excerpt of our 2017 conversation with Lee Mendelson who produced the classic animated special and wrote the lyrics of the song that has since been covered by Diana Krall, John Legend, Shawn Colvin, R.E.M., Mariah Carey, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, Toni Braxon, Lauren Daigle, and many others. Mendelson died on Christmas day in 2019, so we are so grateful to have had the chance to speak with him a couple of years before his passing. We know his memories will warm your heart! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's Day 11 of our "12 Days of Christmas" daily mini-episodes spotlighting a classic holiday song and featuring an interview with the writer. On this Christmas Eve we reflect on "Breath of Heaven" with Chris Eaton, who co-wrote the song with Amy Grant. It has since been recorded by Vince Gill, Jessica Simpson, Donna Summer, Sara Groves, Melissa Manchester, and many more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 tenth day of Christmas, we explore "Merry Christmas from the Family" with the great Robert Earl Keen. The Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Famer tells Scott and guest host Randy Poe all about the song that set the standard for redneck Christmases everywhere, and has been covered by The Chicks, Jill Sobule, Montgomery Gentry, and others. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PART ONEScott and Paul chat about the holidays and Paul's latest Christmas cut by Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr.PART TWOThe guys catch up with Eagles songwriter and past Songcraft guest Jack Tempchin ("Already Gone," "Peaceful Easy Feeling") about his brand new holiday song and children's book. PART THREEOur in-depth conversation with thirteen-time Grammy nominee and two-time winner Walter Afanasieff who co-wrote and co-produced Mariah Carey hits such as the number one singles “Can’t Let Go,” “My All,” “Hero,” “One Sweet Day,” and the perennial holiday classic "All I Want for Christmas is You." Additionally, he produced some of the biggest movie soundtrack songs of all time, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World,” and “My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. ABOUT WALTER AFANSIEFFThirteen-time Grammy nominee and two-time winner Walter Afanasieff is best known for his collaborative songwriting and production partnership with Mariah Carey that yielded hit singles such as “Can’t Let Go,” “Dreamlover,” “Hero,” “Without You,” “Anytime You Need a Friend,” “Butterfly,” “My All,” and “One Sweet Day,” a duet with Boyz II Men that was named ASCAP Song of the Year. It hit #1 in December of 1995 and stayed there for sixteen weeks—a record that remained unbroken for more than two decades. Their “All I Want for Christmas is You” was released in 1994 and has since become a holiday standard. It hit #1 on Billboard’s pop chart for the first time in 2019, giving Walter and Mariah the world record for the longest period of time between a song’s original release and its arrival at the top of the chart.  In addition to his success with Carey, Afanasieff carved out a formidable reputation as a go-to producer of hit movie songs. After co-writing and co-producing the Gladys Knight single “Licence to Kill” from the James Bond film of the same name, he went on to produce “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, “Even If My Heart Would Break” from The Bodyguard, and “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, which became the best-selling single in the world for 1998. Additionally he produced “Some Day” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Academy Award nominated “Go the Distance” from Hercules.Other hits from the Walter Afanasieff songbook include “Can You Stop the Rain,” a #1 R&B single for Peabo Bryson that earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song, “Missing You Now,” a #1 Adult Contemporary hit for Michael Bolton, “If You Go Away,” a Top 20 single for New Kids on the Block, Savage Garden’s #1 pop single “I Knew I Loved You,” and Ricky Martin’s massive global hit “She Bangs.”The long list of additional artists Walter has written and produced music for includes Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Destiny's Child, Kenny G, Andrea Bocelli, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Loggins, Barbra Streisand, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Babyface, and Josh Groban.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.